[Breaking] 2.77 Million Aged 12-17 to Receive Pfizer Shots Starting October

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Pfizer vaccine administration for 2.77 million children and adolescents aged 12 to 17, who were previously excluded from the COVID-19 vaccination target group, will begin on the 18th of next month.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced the "COVID-19 Vaccination Q4 Implementation Plan" containing this information on the 27th. When the initial COVID-19 vaccination plan was established last January, there was no vaccine authorized for this age group, so children and adolescents were excluded from the target group. Now, vaccination for them will commence.

Vaccination for children and adolescents will be conducted by age group, considering the influenza vaccine administration starting next month and academic schedules such as midterm and final exams. Those aged 16 to 17 will make advance reservations from the 5th to the 29th of next month, with vaccinations taking place from the 18th of next month to November 13. Those aged 12 to 15 will have advance reservations from the 18th of next month to November 12, with vaccinations scheduled from November 1 to 27.

The vaccine to be administered is the Pfizer vaccine, currently the only vaccine authorized for ages 12 to 17. The Moderna vaccine's domestic distributor, GC Green Cross, has applied to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to lower the eligible vaccination age to 12, but the approval has not yet been granted.

The vaccination interval is three weeks, and after individual advance reservations are made either by the individual or a proxy, vaccination will be carried out at designated medical institutions based on the consent of a guardian (legal representative).