"Vaccines Are the Most Powerful Means to Reduce Severe Cases and Death Risk"… "Please Complete Vaccination Promptly"

On the morning of the 21st, a COVID-19 vaccination is being administered at the vaccination center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The quarantine authorities cautioned against overinterpreting the recent increase in presumed 'breakthrough infection' cases?where individuals contract COVID-19 after completing vaccination?and subsequent deaths, while urging active participation in vaccination.

On the afternoon of the 21st, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters and Director of the National Institute of Health, stated at a regular briefing, "It is difficult to interpret the overall breakthrough infection deaths as significantly increasing or expanding based on statistics from a certain period, especially in October."

He explained, "Due to the surge in confirmed cases in September following the epidemic situation, the number of elderly confirmed cases increased, and consequently, deaths among elderly breakthrough infection cases after full vaccination have risen." While acknowledging the increase in breakthrough infections and deaths following such infections, he reiterated, "Even cumulatively, the proportion of deaths due to COVID-19 among those fully vaccinated is very low." He added, "The epidemic situation is gradually easing, and we need to observe the breakthrough infection rate a bit longer."

Deputy Director Kwon emphasized the necessity of vaccination. He said, "COVID-19 vaccines remain the most powerful means to reduce severe illness and death and are a very effective method of social distancing." He urged, "Please actively participate in vaccination, and those eligible for additional doses, including those who passed six months after vaccination, should proceed with booster shots according to the schedule."

In this regard, the quarantine authorities decided to allow individuals who missed their second dose on the originally scheduled date to receive vaccination on the same day by visiting medical institutions without changing their reservation date, starting from today.

Those who have not yet received their second dose can check vaccination availability at medical institutions and get vaccinated on the same day. Additionally, second doses can be administered using leftover vaccines through same-day quick reservation services on portals like Kakao and Naver or through the reservation institutions' standby lists.

The authorities have been sending individual notification messages containing this information to those who missed their second dose on the scheduled date starting today.

Deputy Director Kwon stressed, "The vaccination completion rate among those aged 18 and over is currently high at 78.3%, but it is important for those who missed their second dose on the scheduled date to complete vaccination promptly for their own health and their family's safety."