From December, School-Based Vaccinations for 2 Weeks... Two-Thirds Attendance Restriction Under Emergency Plans

Ministry of Education and KDCA Issue Appeal to Expand Pediatric and Adolescent Vaccination Participation
Phase 1 of Emergency Plan Limits Attendance to Two-Thirds in Overcrowded Universities and Classes
Two-Week Vaccine Support Week Starting December with Group Vaccination Promotion
Phase 2 Allows 75% Attendance for Grades 3-6 and Two-Thirds for Middle and High Schools
Pediatric and Adolescent Incidence Rate Rose from 7.7 to 9.1 per 100,000 in Early November Over Four Weeks
Vaccination Completion Rates: 60.2% for Ages 16-17, 7.7% for Ages 12-15

As variant viruses emerge and the proportion of confirmed cases among children and adolescents increases, education and quarantine authorities are urging participation in COVID-19 vaccination and have decided to implement school-based vaccinations. If an emergency plan is activated in the future, the density of schools will be limited to two-thirds starting with large schools and overcrowded classes, and quarantine guidelines will be strengthened by refraining from group activities and mobile classes.

On the 1st, the Ministry of Education and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced a public appeal to stabilize full in-person attendance and expand vaccination participation among children and adolescents, along with measures to increase vaccination rates. Yoo Eun-hye, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, said, "Full in-person attendance is key to returning to normal life. We will strengthen quarantine measures inside and outside schools, increase youth vaccination rates, and prepare emergency plans such as adjusting school density in stages when emergency plans are announced."

The Ministry of Education stated that if an emergency plan is activated, in the first stage, school density will be reduced to two-thirds in large schools and overcrowded classes. In the second stage, school density adjustments will be expanded to other schools, allowing only three-fourths attendance for grades 3 to 6 in elementary school and two-thirds attendance for middle and high schools. Even in the second stage, full attendance and care services will operate normally for kindergartens and special schools (classes). Along with the phased recovery of daily life, quarantine guidelines for educational activities, such as refraining from school events, group activities, and mobile classes, which had been relaxed, will be strengthened again.

To improve access to vaccination, a two-week intensive vaccination support period will be operated from the 13th to the 24th, and school-based vaccinations will be conducted for schools that wish to participate. Each school will conduct a survey of vaccination demand, and health center visiting teams will visit schools to vaccinate, or vaccinations will be carried out through health centers, vaccination centers, or affiliated medical institutions within the jurisdiction. To address parents' concerns about side effects, related information will also be strengthened. Statistics on vaccination side effects, severe confirmed cases, and vaccination rates by age group and region will be regularly disclosed.

Since the phased recovery of daily life began in November, community infections have increased, and the incidence rate of COVID-19 among children and adolescents has steadily risen. As of the first week of November, the rate increased from 7.7 per 100,000 people to 9.1 per 100,000 people in the fourth week. The proportion of confirmed cases among children and adolescents was ▲6.1% (3,630 cases) in September ▲9.1% (4,837 cases) in October ▲8.0% (6,613 cases) as of November 30. Among confirmed children and adolescents, 18.1% were hospitalized, and nine progressed to severe or critical condition (all unvaccinated).

Although vaccination for children and adolescents began in mid-October, vaccination rates remain low among 6th graders and middle school students. As of midnight on the 1st, the vaccination completion rates were ▲60.2% for ages 16-17 ▲7.7% for ages 12-15.

The Ministry of Education and quarantine authorities emphasize that the infection prevention effect through vaccination is clear. The incidence rate per 100,000 people for high school seniors and for 1st and 2nd-year high school students, who have relatively high vaccination rates, has steadily decreased since the first week of November. For 1st-year high school students, it dropped from 8.9 to 4.0, and for 2nd-year students, from 9.8 to 4.9. Among 12-17-year-olds confirmed positive in the past two weeks, 92.3% were unvaccinated and 7.5% were partially vaccinated.

According to an analysis by quarantine authorities targeting ages 16-18, the risk of COVID-19 infection in the unvaccinated group was 4.8 times higher than in the fully vaccinated group, and the infection prevention effect of vaccination was 79.2%. Adverse reactions after vaccination were reported to be similar to those in adults. The adverse reaction reporting rate for ages 12-17 was 0.25%, lower than 0.45% for high school seniors, with 98% being general adverse reactions. Investigations are ongoing for suspected anaphylaxis (32 cases) and myocarditis/pericarditis (10 cases).

Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the KDCA, stated, "Children and adolescents have a relatively lower rate of severe illness from COVID-19 compared to adults, and since their school life and external activities have been restricted, the importance of vaccination has not been emphasized. However, with the emergence of highly transmissible new variant viruses, I urge participation in vaccination to protect the safety of individuals and their families."