Additional Pre-Booking for Vaccinations of Adolescents Aged 12-17... "Vaccination Rate Must Be Increased"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As the COVID-19 vaccination rate among adolescents falls short of expectations, the government will conduct additional pre-reservations.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team on the 23rd, additional pre-reservations for vaccinations will be conducted for those aged 12 to 17 from 8 PM on the 23rd until 6 PM on the 31st of next month. Eligible children and adolescents can receive their vaccinations between the 29th of this month and January 22 of next year.

Hong Jeong-ik, head of the Vaccination Management Division of the Promotion Team, explained, "The reason for accepting additional pre-reservations for adolescents is that the 12 to 15 age group has not been participating much in vaccinations," adding, "We are creating various measures and conditions, such as extending the reservation and vaccination periods to enable vaccinations, but there are still many concerns, so we judge that vaccinations have not been sufficiently completed."

Hong said, "There are many who intend to get vaccinated but are still hesitant," and added, "Since less than half of the eligible individuals have been vaccinated so far, we have kept the opportunity open for continued reservations and vaccinations."

When asked whether the transition to the second phase of gradual daily recovery depends on the adolescent vaccination rate, Hong responded, "I do not think the adolescent vaccination completion rate is linked to the second phase of daily recovery," but added, "However, since the number of confirmed cases among children and adolescents is increasing and cluster infections are occurring in educational facilities such as schools and academies, we decided to provide vaccination opportunities."