Same-Day SNS Reservations and Use of Medical Institution Waiting Lists
Available Even at Non-Primary Vaccination Medical Institutions
On the 6th, when the number of first-dose COVID-19 vaccine recipients in Korea surpassed 30 million, citizens visiting the vaccination center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, are receiving their vaccines. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Starting from the 17th, same-day reservations for leftover COVID-19 vaccines for the second dose will be available through SNS platforms such as the Naver and Kakao apps. The Pfizer vaccine can be used for the second dose as a leftover vaccine 3 weeks after the first dose, and the Moderna vaccine 4 weeks after the first dose.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced on the 16th that from the 17th, it will be possible to reserve and receive leftover vaccines for the second dose using the SNS same-day rapid reservation service or the standby lists of medical institutions. Until now, leftover vaccines were only available for reservations and vaccinations for the first dose, but as the cumulative first-dose vaccination rate approaches 70% of the total population, the scope of leftover vaccine use has been expanded to include the second dose. According to the authorized range for each vaccine, Pfizer allows the second dose of leftover vaccines 3 weeks after the first dose, Moderna 4 weeks, and AstraZeneca (AZ) between 4 to 12 weeks.
Kim Ki-nam, head of the Vaccination Planning Division of the Promotion Team, explained at the COVID-19 briefing that "to expedite the second dose, we have shortened the interval within the authorized range and prepared a plan to utilize leftover vaccines to minimize the disposal of leftover vaccines by medical institutions."
In particular, when using the standby lists of medical institutions, leftover vaccines can be administered not only at the medical institution where the first dose was received but also by registering on the standby lists of other medical institutions where leftover vaccines occur. For SNS same-day reservations, you can choose from all medical institutions that have registered leftover vaccines. When reserving same-day vaccination using leftover vaccines through SNS or standby lists, the existing second-dose reservation will be automatically canceled.
The second dose date for the AZ vaccine is basically reserved 8 weeks from the first dose date, but from the 28th of this month, if desired due to personal circumstances, the reservation date can be changed within the 4 to 12-week range on the pre-reservation website. However, to prepare for vaccinations at entrusted medical institutions, the second dose date can be reserved starting two days after the date of accessing the reservation system.
However, the health authorities plan to separately review the issue of shortening the interval between the first and second doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which have currently been extended to 6 weeks. Kim said, "For mRNA vaccines, the basic vaccination interval is currently set at 6 weeks, and if necessary, medical institutions are contacted to adjust the interval individually within the 5 to 6-week range according to individual circumstances. The blanket shortening of the mRNA vaccine interval from 6 weeks will be separately announced later, considering the vaccine supply in September and October and the vaccination capacity of medical institutions in October, including influenza vaccinations."
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