Next Year's Youth Quarantine Pass Applies to Those Born 2003-2009... Starting from Middle School Grade 1

Adolescents aged 16 to 17 are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations at Hongik Hospital in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The government announced on the 4th that the age group subject to the Youth Vaccination Certificate and Negative Test Confirmation System (Quarantine Pass), which will be applied from February next year, is those born between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2009.

Based on the birth year, the target group includes students from 6th grade in elementary school to 3rd grade in high school as of this year. Considering the actual implementation of the quarantine pass next year, it applies from 1st grade in middle school.

Vaccinations for these age groups are currently underway. The '12?17 years old' group (born 2004?2009) is divided into two groups: '16?17 years old' (born 2004?2005) and '12?15 years old' (born 2006?2009), with vaccinations starting sequentially from October 18 and November 1, respectively.

Currently, additional pre-registrations for the entire age group are being accepted until 6 p.m. on the 31st. Children and adolescents who participate in pre-registration can designate their vaccination date until January 22 next year.

According to the quarantine authorities, as of this date, the first-dose vaccination rate for 12?17-year-olds is 48.0% (1,329,040 out of 2,768,836), and the completion rate is 29.8% (825,584). Those born in 2003, corresponding to 3rd grade high school students, started and completed vaccinations from July 19 to 30, considering the university entrance exam schedule.

Meanwhile, those born in 2010, currently in 5th grade elementary school, are not subject to the quarantine pass. Although they will be recommended for vaccination starting next year, considering the vaccination interval and antibody formation period, it is practically difficult to complete vaccination before the quarantine pass is implemented in February, so they are excluded from the quarantine pass target.