"Is It Safe to Get Vaccinated?"... Citizens Worried About AZ '3040 Vaccination' Despite Doctors' Opposition

Medical Association "Serious Concerns Over Reallowing AZ Leftover Vaccine for 30-40s"
30s and 40s "Until Recently, AZ Vaccine Was Not Allowed..."
Health Authorities "Many AZ Leftover Vaccine Recipients and Reservations"

A citizen is receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the government lowers the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine eligibility age to '30 and above' only for leftover vaccines, people in their 30s and 40s, who are now eligible, still seem reluctant to receive the AZ vaccine. Especially as the Korea Medical Association (KMA) expressed serious concerns about the change in the vaccination age limit, public worries have intensified. However, health authorities stated that there are quite a few people in their 30s and 40s currently receiving or reserving leftover AZ vaccines and that this is "helping with vaccination efforts."

On the 17th, the KMA issued a press release stating, "We express serious concerns about the difference between the absolute recommended vaccination age and the age at which vaccination opportunities are granted only to those who wish to be vaccinated regarding the AZ vaccine."

They continued, "Based on the 'Weekly COVID-19 Vaccination Adverse Reaction Report' announced by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's COVID-19 Vaccination Task Force on the 11th, analysis shows that for those under 50, the risk of vaccine-related adverse events relative to the preventive effect of the second AZ vaccination is relatively high compared to other vaccines, so even if they wish to be vaccinated, it is considered risky to prioritize them."

The KMA also cited the academic journal Lancet, stating, "Both AZ and Pfizer vaccines showed higher systemic side effects in those under 55, but the rate of side effects relative to vaccination rate was significantly higher for the AZ vaccine," adding, "Further discussion is needed on the necessity of vaccinating the population under 50, who have potentially higher risks."

Remaining AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccines in the Seoul area are displayed on the KakaoTalk (left) and Naver apps. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, the task force announced on the 13th that for leftover AZ vaccines, people in their 30s and 40s could also receive the vaccine if they wished.

Originally, the government raised the vaccination age to 50 and above in July due to concerns about thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). However, with the spread of the fourth wave of COVID-19 centered on the Delta variant and an increase in leftover AZ vaccine wastage, vaccination was allowed for those aged 30 and above upon request.

However, as health authorities reversed the leftover vaccine guidelines, many people in their 30s and 40s remain hesitant to get vaccinated. Since the government's initial reason for raising the recommended AZ vaccination age was 'safety,' there are concerns about anxiety.

Office worker Kim (31) said, "Can the vaccination eligibility criteria keep changing like this? The reason AZ vaccines are leftover is because people fear side effects. But recklessly vaccinating people in their 30s and 40s just because vaccines are leftover is inappropriate," adding, "This is a matter of people's lives, yet the criteria keep changing. At this rate, I don't think I will get a leftover vaccine."

Concerns about side effects of the AstraZeneca vaccine are continuously being posted on online communities. Photo by Naver Cafe screenshot.

On online communities, posts expressing anxiety about vaccine side effects continue. One netizen criticized, "AZ vaccines for those under 50 are not supposed to be given due to the risk of thrombosis, but since vaccines are leftover, they are trying to vaccinate those under 50 in a hurry. It feels like experimenting on the public."

Other netizens also responded, "Just a few days ago, they said it was dangerous to get AZ and prohibited it, but now I don't know what happened. If the public's health is truly a priority, shouldn't the government discourage vaccination even if people want it?" and "Medical experts are seriously concerned about the government's policy, but are we just supposed to get vaccinated? This is really serious."

Meanwhile, other countries have also released research showing that AZ vaccine side effects like thrombosis are more dangerous for younger people. According to foreign media, researchers at Oxford University Hospital in the UK recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine that "although vaccine-induced thrombotic syndrome after AZ vaccination is very rare, it carries a high risk of death and is more likely to occur in young and healthy individuals." Oxford University co-developed the AstraZeneca vaccine.

In this regard, the UK health authorities raised the recommended AZ vaccination age from 30 to 40 in May based on the vaccine joint committee's recommendation.

On the other hand, some people in their 30s and 40s who have already received the AZ vaccine responded positively. One netizen shared on a mom caf?, "I got the AZ vaccine. There was so much talk about it that I hesitated and considered waiting for Pfizer, but I decided to get vaccinated quickly for my baby," adding, "It was better than I expected. I had mild muscle pain around the injection site on the day of vaccination, but I returned to normal condition the next day."

Meanwhile, health authorities reported that many people have already been vaccinated or have reservations for leftover AZ vaccines. Kim Gi-nam, head of the vaccination planning team at the task force, said at a recent regular briefing, "People under 49 are basically being scheduled to receive Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. However, those aged 30 and above who want to get vaccinated quickly using leftover vaccines can choose the AZ vaccine," adding, "The number of AZ vaccinations is increasing, and many people have already been vaccinated or reserved."

He continued, "We believe that the actual amount of leftover vaccines being discarded at medical institutions is decreasing and that this is helping to find and vaccinate eligible people."