Janssen Vaccinated Individuals Divided Over Receiving Booster Shot: 'Will Get It' vs. 'Won't Get It'

"High Fever for Two Days, Reluctant to Get Additional Vaccination"
"One Dose Is Not Enough, For Vaccine Pass"

On the 12th, additional vaccinations (booster shots) began for COVID-19 treatment hospital workers who had completed their primary vaccination series over six months ago. Treatment hospital workers are receiving vaccines at the Central Vaccination Center of the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] As booster shots for Janssen COVID-19 vaccine recipients become more visible in South Korea, reactions among those vaccinated are divided.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved booster shots for Moderna and Janssen vaccines. People who have completed the first and second doses of the Moderna vaccine can receive an additional dose after six months, while Janssen vaccine recipients can get a booster shot starting two months after their initial vaccination. Notably, the Janssen vaccine is recommended for all recipients aged 18 and older to receive a booster shot. This differs from Moderna, which limits recommendations to those aged 65 and older and high-risk groups or workers in high-risk occupations aged 18 and older.

Accordingly, the South Korean government is expected to announce a detailed booster shot plan this week, including the timing, target groups, and vaccine types for additional vaccinations. Approximately 1.46 million Janssen vaccine recipients, including reservists aged 30 and above, civil defense personnel, and those involved in defense and diplomatic sectors, are likely to be included.

In this situation, opinions among booster shot candidates are sharply divided between those willing to get vaccinated for incentives such as vaccine passes and those refusing due to concerns about vaccine side effects and safety issues.

Especially among those who experienced various side effects when receiving the Janssen vaccine, negative perceptions about the booster shot are strong. Kim Je-ho (38), a Janssen vaccine recipient, said, “After getting the Janssen vaccine, I suffered from a high fever over 38 degrees Celsius for two days. I have heard of cases where people experienced adverse reactions after receiving Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, so I am hesitant about getting an additional shot. Regardless of the effectiveness such as antibody formation rates, safety must be proven for me to feel comfortable getting it.”

Another Janssen vaccine recipient, Seo Won-young (34), said, “I would get the booster shot only if it is a means to prove that I am safe, but otherwise, I do not want to get it. I chose the Janssen vaccine because it requires only one dose despite risks like antibody formation rates and breakthrough infections, so if I have to get an additional shot, wouldn’t that advantage disappear?”

On the other hand, some have been waiting for the booster shot. Jung Won-seok (34) said, “I initially got the Janssen vaccine because it was said to require only one dose, but I was anxious after seeing research showing it is less effective than other vaccines. I want to receive an additional dose of an mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccine.”

Lee Tae-ho (36) also said, “Once With-Corona begins, the impact of vaccine passes will increase, so shouldn’t we get booster shots to enjoy those benefits? My friends around me are all planning to get the booster shot,” he added.