On the 10th, when Janssen vaccine administration began for reservists aged 30 to under 60, civil defense personnel, and those related to defense and diplomacy, a person in their 30s eligible for vaccination is receiving the Janssen vaccine at Kim Internal Medicine Clinic in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] On the 10th, 105 days after the start of COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea, the number of people who received the first dose exceeded 10 million. The government aims to complete the first dose for 14 million people by the end of this month, but as the vaccination speed accelerates, frontline medical institutions are expressing concerns about temporary vaccine shortages.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced that as of 11 a.m. on the same day, the provisional tally showed that the number of people who received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine exceeded 10 million, reaching 10,060,705. The vaccination rate relative to the population is 19.6%.
The number surpassed 10 million as about 270,000 additional people received their first dose by 11 a.m. on the 10th, up from 9,794,163 first-dose completions as of midnight the previous day. This milestone comes 105 days after vaccinations began on February 26 targeting high-risk groups such as residents and workers in nursing hospitals and facilities.
On the 7th, the last piece of the elderly vaccination puzzle was completed with AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine administration to those aged 60-64, and Pfizer vaccinations began for military personnel under 30 years old. This led to rapid increases in cumulative first-dose recipients, with 855,642 on the 7th, 714,384 on the 8th, and 562,087 on the 9th.
On the 10th, when Janssen vaccine administration began for reservists aged 30 to under 60, civil defense personnel, and those related to defense and diplomacy, medical staff at Kim Internal Medicine Clinic in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, are displaying the Janssen vaccine. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
The start of vaccinations with 1,012,700 doses of the Janssen vaccine, donated by the U.S. government on the same day, also contributed to surpassing 10 million. The Janssen vaccine targets about 890,000 reservists and civil defense personnel aged 30 and above who made prior reservations, as well as military-related workers. On the first day alone, 234,000 people were vaccinated. The remaining Janssen doses will be used for emergency travelers with essential activities and residents of some island areas without doctors.
The government is confident in achieving the goal of 14 million first-dose vaccinations this month. However, as the vaccination pace quickens, frontline hospitals are concerned about temporary supply shortages.
As of midnight the previous day, the government reported a remaining stock of 3,999,200 doses of the AZ vaccine. The only AZ vaccine doses yet to be introduced in the first half of the year are 835,000 doses procured through the global vaccine joint purchase project, the COVAX Facility. Considering that 3,802,441 elderly people aged 60-74 who made reservations have not yet been vaccinated, along with other groups such as chronic respiratory disease patients and the second dose requirements for nursing hospitals and facilities, a temporary shortage could occur.
The government is reviewing plans to utilize low dead space (LDS) syringes and stocks held by public health centers, as well as reallocating leftover Janssen vaccine doses to AZ vaccine reservation holders. If AZ vaccination becomes difficult due to shortages, substitution with the Janssen vaccine will be allowed for consenting reservation holders. The government previously requested cooperation from frontline entrusted medical institutions to prioritize elderly people with prior reservations for leftover Janssen vaccine doses, similar to the AZ vaccine policy.
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