Vaccination with Pfizer and Moderna for Daycare, Kindergarten, and Elementary School Teachers by the End of July
On the 16th, at the COVID-19 vaccination center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, police forces are assisting with vaccinations as the first-dose vaccination target of 13 million people was surpassed earlier than initially expected. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] People in their 50s will receive COVID-19 vaccinations starting at the end of next month, and those aged 40 and below will be vaccinated from August based on the order of advance reservations.
To enable full in-person attendance in the second semester, high school seniors and high school staff will receive the Pfizer vaccine starting at the end of July, while repeat exam takers excluding seniors will be vaccinated in August. Childcare center, kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school staff, as well as care workers, will receive Pfizer or Moderna vaccines starting at the end of July.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team (Director Jeong Eun-kyung) announced on the 17th the "COVID-19 Vaccination Third Quarter Implementation Plan," which includes vaccination plans for the general public aged 18 to 59, aiming to complete the first dose for 36 million people, over 70% of the total population, by the end of September.
The team plans to vaccinate 22 million people in the third quarter, swiftly completing the first dose for 36 million people by the end of September and achieving herd immunity by November.
Priority Vaccination in Early July for Unvaccinated 60?74-Year-Olds Eligible for AstraZeneca
First, due to increased advance reservations, those aged 60 to 74 who have not completed AstraZeneca vaccination by June 19 will be prioritized for vaccination in early July. Approximately 70,000 people under 30 who were eligible for AstraZeneca vaccination in the first half of the year but missed vaccination in June will be vaccinated at vaccination centers in early July after making advance reservations.
High school seniors and high school staff will be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine at vaccination centers from the fourth week of July, according to a pre-coordinated schedule between the local education offices and city/county/district vaccination centers for those who consent to vaccination. University entrance exam candidates other than seniors can receive vaccinations in August through online advance reservations.
Childcare center, kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school staff, as well as care workers, will receive Pfizer or Moderna vaccines starting from the fourth week of July. Vaccinations originally planned for June for childcare center and kindergarten staff, as well as first and second-grade elementary school teachers, will also be conducted together after advance reservations.
Vaccinations for people in their 50s will begin from the fifth week of July. Reservations will be accepted sequentially, starting with those aged 55?59, followed by those aged 50?54.
Considering that the severe illness rate from COVID-19 is higher in people in their 50s (13.2%) compared to those aged 40 and below, vaccinations for people in their 50s will begin at the end of July after online advance reservations.
Vaccinations for Those 40 and Below Based on Advance Reservations... Vaccination Date and Institution Determined
For those aged 40 and below, vaccinations will be administered from August in the order of advance reservations for those who wish to be vaccinated.
Considering the amount and timing of vaccine supply, advance reservations will be conducted at intervals of one to two weeks, and vaccination dates and institutions will be determined based on individual choice.
Local government autonomous vaccinations and workplace vaccinations will also be conducted. Vaccinations for essential personnel and high-risk groups will be carried out considering the characteristics of each local government and the quarantine situation.
For the convenience of workers, workplace vaccinations will be conducted at major production plants such as steel and automobile factories that require 24-hour operation.
Workplace vaccinations will target workers and subcontractor employees at affiliated clinics capable of conducting vaccinations, and the timing is planned for August, when priority vaccinations for people in their 50s and others are completed.
The team will conduct Pfizer cross-vaccinations for those scheduled for the second dose of AstraZeneca in July.
Originally, 835,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines from COVAX were to be introduced by the end of June for second doses, but as the schedule changed to after July, the team, after expert consultation and review by the Vaccination Expert Committee, decided to allow Pfizer vaccinations for some recipients.
The Vaccination Expert Committee decided that while completing COVID-19 vaccinations with the same vaccine is the principle, cross-vaccinations can be conducted depending on vaccine supply situations, considering overseas cases and research results from countries such as Canada, Germany, and Sweden.
Accordingly, about 760,000 people who received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine at early vaccination entrusted medical institutions since mid-April (including visiting care workers, clinic and pharmacy staff, and essential social workers) will receive the second dose with the Pfizer vaccine.
However, among those eligible for cross-vaccination (first dose AZ, second dose Pfizer), those who wish to receive the second dose of the AZ vaccine will be vaccinated with AZ starting from the fourth week of July.
Second Dose Focus from Mid-June to Third Week of July
From mid-June until the third week of July, when the third quarter vaccinations begin in earnest, vaccinations will focus on second doses scheduled according to vaccine intervals (Pfizer 3 weeks, AstraZeneca 11?12 weeks) rather than first doses for new target groups.
Additionally, preparations for third quarter vaccinations will be made, including advance reservations for July vaccinations and training and preparation for Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations at entrusted medical institutions.
Director Jeong Eun-kyung of the Promotion Team stated, "As the third quarter marks the full-scale vaccination of the general public, we will make every effort to ensure safer vaccinations," and urged, "Those eligible for vaccination should actively participate so that we can restore daily life together by achieving herd immunity in November."
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