[Breaking] Pfizer and Moderna Vaccination Intervals Gradually Shortened... Second Dose Next Month at 4-5 Week Interval

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The interval between Pfizer and Moderna messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine doses, which has currently been extended to 6 weeks, will gradually return to the normal schedule.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced the "COVID-19 Vaccination Q4 Implementation Plan" containing this information on the 27th.

The approved dosing intervals for each mRNA vaccine are 3 weeks for Pfizer and 4 weeks for Moderna. However, since last month on the 16th, due to supply instability of the Moderna vaccine, the team had uniformly adjusted the interval for the second dose of mRNA vaccines to 6 weeks. Considering that supply has normalized again this month, they have decided to revert the dosing intervals back to the original schedule.

However, taking into account confusion at the frontline medical sites, those who have second dose appointments until November 14 will have their dosing intervals shortened sequentially. The 2.16 million people vaccinated between November 4 and 10 will receive their doses at the currently announced 6-week interval. Then, 9.09 million people vaccinated between November 11 and November 7 will receive their second dose at a shortened 5-week interval. Lastly, those scheduled between November 8 and 14 will receive their doses at a 4-week interval, shortened by 2 weeks. If the vaccination center is closed or the reservation capacity is exceeded on the adjusted date, the appointment will be automatically postponed to the next day.

This adjustment of dosing intervals will be automatically reflected in the COVID-19 vaccination system on the 28th, and individual notifications will be sent to the recipients. If it is difficult to get vaccinated on the adjusted date, individuals can change their appointment starting from the 1st of next month through the COVID-19 vaccination pre-reservation website.

From October onward, those receiving new vaccinations will follow the original approved intervals of 3 weeks for Pfizer and 4 weeks for Moderna.