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 Seo So-jeong] People in their 50s, Janssen vaccine recipients, individuals aged 18-49 with underlying health conditions, and priority occupational groups will receive booster shots starting next month. The booster vaccines will primarily be messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna, while Janssen recipients who wish may also receive the Janssen vaccine for their booster.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced on the 28th the "Vaccination Implementation Plan for November-December," stating that the booster shot eligibility will be expanded starting next month. This plan was decided after deliberation by the Vaccination Expert Committee on the 27th.
First, starting next month, booster shots will be administered to people in their 50s, Janssen vaccine recipients, and individuals aged 18-49 with underlying health conditions. These groups are included as high-risk for additional vaccination due to risks of infection, severe illness, death, and breakthrough infections.
For those in their 50s, considering the high fatality rate (0.31%) and other risks, booster shots will be given to those who have passed six months since completing their initial vaccination. As of midnight on the 28th, about 7.91 million people in their 50s have completed vaccination, with approximately 320,000 eligible for vaccination in the fourth quarter. Pre-registration begins on the 1st of next month, and vaccinations start on the 15th.
Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), explained, "Most people in their 50s will receive their additional shots in the first half of next year when six months have passed since their initial vaccination. However, since some in their 50s were vaccinated in the first half of this year, about 200,000 in November and 110,000 in December will be eligible, so we plan to expand the target group to include them."
Janssen Recipients Can Book Booster Shots Starting Today at 8 PM... Pfizer and Moderna Vaccinations
Individuals with underlying health conditions who are at high risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 will also receive booster shots starting next month. Eligible conditions include ▲endocrine disorders (diabetes, pituitary dysfunction, adrenal diseases) ▲cardiovascular diseases (heart failure, myocarditis, myocardial infarction, chronic rheumatic heart disease, valvular disease, hypertension) ▲chronic kidney diseases (chronic renal failure, glomerular diseases) ▲chronic respiratory diseases (emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, asthma, pneumoconiosis, other interstitial lung diseases) ▲neurological diseases (Parkinson's disease, dementia, cerebral palsy, multiple system atrophy, spinal cord injury, epilepsy, central nervous system demyelinating diseases) ▲digestive diseases (cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B, cystic fibrosis), among others.
Approximately 1.48 million Janssen vaccine recipients, who have a high rate of breakthrough infections, will also receive booster shots starting next month. Considering that most recipients are active young and middle-aged adults, additional vaccination will be administered to all primary Janssen vaccine recipients two months after completing their initial vaccination. Janssen recipients can receive mRNA vaccines at designated medical institutions, and those aged 30 and above who wish may receive the Janssen vaccine as a booster. In this case, they must contact the public health center by phone for confirmation before vaccination. Pre-registration starts today at 8 PM, and vaccinations begin on the 8th of next month.
Director Jung stated, "According to international studies including those from the U.S., neutralizing antibody levels increase 76-fold when Moderna is used as a booster after Janssen, 35-fold with Pfizer, and about 4-fold with Janssen itself. Therefore, we basically recommend mRNA vaccines for those who received Janssen as their first dose, as neutralizing antibody formation tends to be slower with Janssen boosters compared to mRNA vaccines."
First responders to COVID-19, medical institution and pharmacy workers at the clinic level, caregivers, special education and childcare workers, health teachers and nurses at daycare centers, police, firefighters, and military personnel?who were prioritized for vaccination in the first half of the year due to high risk of infection and transmission?will be eligible for booster shots starting next month. Those who have passed six months since completing their initial vaccination can pre-register from the 1st and receive vaccinations starting on the 15th.
Booster shots will primarily use mRNA vaccines, and it is recommended to avoid using more than two different vaccine types. Accordingly, those who initially received the AstraZeneca vaccine will receive Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines for their booster, and those who had mixed AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccinations are recommended to receive Pfizer for their booster. Individuals who initially received WHO-approved vaccines not authorized domestically will receive mRNA vaccines for their booster. Exceptions apply for those contraindicated or advised to delay mRNA vaccines, who may receive an appropriate vaccine as determined by a physician.
The Moderna booster dose will be half the amount of the initial dose (0.25 ml, containing 50 μg of antigen), while other vaccines will be administered at the same dose as the initial vaccination. Regarding this, Director Jung said, "The U.S. FDA reviewed clinical trial results presented by Moderna and changed the approval criteria based on safety and efficacy considerations. Moderna's initial dose contains 100 μg of antigen per person, while Pfizer's contains 30 μg, so although the volume per dose is the same, the difference in antigen amount may affect vaccine effectiveness and side effects."
Concerning potential confusion at vaccination sites due to the dose change, Director Jung added, "We are also concerned about this and will coordinate with the medical community to use color-coded stickers for vaccine recipients and include measures to prevent incorrect dosing, ensuring proper guidance, education, and management to avoid errors."
The booster shot interval is generally six months after completing the initial vaccination, preferably within eight months. However, immunocompromised individuals, who have incomplete immune formation after initial vaccination, and Janssen vaccine recipients, who have a higher rate of breakthrough infections, are recommended to receive boosters starting two months after their initial vaccination as an exception.
Director Jung emphasized, "We aim to establish a safer foundation for phased daily recovery by achieving over 80% vaccination completion in the population. By expanding booster shot eligibility to people in their 50s, those with underlying conditions, Janssen vaccine recipients, and priority occupational groups, we will enhance vaccination effectiveness and protect high-risk groups."
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