Isolation Exemption Criteria: "Up to 90 Days After Second Dose"... "Prevention of Infection Difficult Thereafter"

Different from the quarantine pass criteria of 180 days after the second vaccination

Medical staff are administering vaccines at the Dongjak-gu Citizens' Sports Center, where the COVID-19 vaccination center in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, is set up.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] If 90 days have passed since receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, breakthrough infections will not be eligible for quarantine exemption benefits. Health authorities explained that while the vaccine's effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death is maintained, it is difficult to guarantee infection prevention effectiveness, making it hard to allow quarantine exemptions for these individuals.

On the afternoon of the 26th, Park Young-jun, head of the epidemiological investigation team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters, stated during a COVID-19 vaccine briefing, "Considering the vaccination effectiveness against the Omicron variant, it is difficult to expect infection prevention effectiveness three months after completing the second dose," adding, "To minimize further transmission, these individuals have been included in the quarantine target."

Health authorities changed the quarantine guidelines for COVID-19 confirmed cases and close contacts starting today. Those who have completed vaccination only need passive monitoring without self-quarantine, even if they are close contacts. However, controversy arose regarding the criteria for being considered fully vaccinated. Those classified as fully vaccinated here are individuals who are 14 to 90 days past their second dose or those who have received a third dose. While the vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (vaccine pass) apply to the same groups and are immediately applicable after the third dose, there is a difference between 90 days (quarantine exemption) and 180 days (vaccine pass) concerning the second dose.

Regarding this, Team Leader Park explained that if more than 90 days have passed since the second dose but the third dose has not been received, "they are managed under the same risk assessment criteria as unvaccinated individuals and those who have received only the first dose," adding, "Recently, it has been confirmed domestically that breakthrough infections tend to occur frequently after three months." To reduce further transmission, a high level of infection prevention effectiveness is necessary, but since it is difficult to expect such effectiveness after 90 days from the second dose, these individuals are included in the quarantine target.

However, Team Leader Park noted, "Vaccination effectiveness includes infection prevention and prevention of severe illness and death," and explained, "Even 3 to 4 months after the second dose, the prevention effect against severe illness and death remains at a high level."