If You Missed the Chance to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine... You Can Get It in October

Pre-Booking Started from the 18th... Vaccinations from October 1 to 16

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] As the first dose vaccination rate for COVID-19 vaccines in South Korea surpasses 70%, those aged 18 and older who missed their initial vaccination opportunity are being given another chance. Pre-booking for these 5 million people began on the 18th, with actual vaccinations starting from October 1.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Force, pre-booking for unvaccinated individuals aged 18 and older is ongoing from 8 PM on the 18th until 6 PM on the 30th. The reservation targets include 1.1 million elderly aged 60 and above, 600,000 people in their 50s, and 3.6 million people aged 18 to 49 who did not make prior reservations. Proxy reservations are also possible for the elderly or foreigners.

Vaccinations will be administered through designated medical institutions nationwide until October 16. The vaccines available are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines such as Pfizer or Moderna. However, the specific vaccine type will be announced sequentially according to the supply schedule.

Initially, health authorities planned to postpone vaccination for those who missed their earlier opportunity until after all eligible individuals had completed their vaccinations, providing an additional chance last. However, due to the ongoing large-scale fourth wave and the urgent need to increase vaccination rates, as well as the recent first-dose vaccination rate exceeding 70% of the population, the vaccination of unvaccinated individuals is being expedited.

Kim Ki-nam, head of the Vaccination Planning Division at the Task Force, explained, "When we announced the COVID-19 vaccination plan last January, we gave vaccination opportunities but stated that those who did not get vaccinated would be vaccinated again after completing vaccinations for the entire target population. Since vaccination opportunities have now been sequentially provided to all age groups 18 and older, we are promoting vaccination for the unvaccinated in line with the completion of first-dose vaccinations for those aged 18 and older by the end of this month."