Korea Considering '4th Dose'... US Reviewing Extension of Vaccination Interval to 8 Weeks

Health Authorities "Considering the Need for 4th Dose for Immunocompromised... Announcement on the 14th"

A citizen is receiving a vaccine at a vaccination center. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Asia Economy DB.

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As health authorities are reviewing plans for a 4th dose vaccination for high-risk groups, the United States is reportedly considering extending the interval between the 1st and 2nd doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to 8 weeks.

According to local media such as NBC on the 5th (local time), Dr. Sarah Oliver of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated at the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting that "we are considering extending the interval between the 1st and 2nd doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to 8 weeks." Currently, in the U.S., Pfizer is administered twice with a 3-week interval, and Moderna with a 4-week interval.

According to the meeting report published on the CDC website, the vaccine's effectiveness was higher when the interval between the 1st and 2nd doses was 6 to 14 weeks compared to the current 3 to 4 weeks interval.

Also, the risk of myocarditis and heart inflammation, which are representative side effects of the vaccine, was relatively lower when the interval between the 1st and 2nd doses was 8 weeks or more.

Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot, a medical professor at Vanderbilt University and a member of the CDC advisory committee, praised this as a "win-win strategy" that achieves both safety and immunity.

Meanwhile, South Korea is reviewing whether to administer a 4th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to high-risk groups such as immunocompromised individuals. Ko Jaeyoung, head of the Crisis Communication Team at the Central Disease Control Headquarters (spokesperson for the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), stated at an online briefing for reporters on the 8th, "We are evaluating the necessity of the 4th dose by assessing immunity levels and vaccine effectiveness together, and it is under review."

Ko said, "The 4th dose for immunocompromised individuals will be announced after deliberation by the Vaccination Expert Committee," adding, "It is not finalized yet, but we plan to announce it next Monday (the 14th)."

Earlier, Jeong Eunkyung, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, also stated at the National Assembly the previous day that for high-risk groups classified as immunocompromised and residents of nursing hospitals and facilities, "They received the 3rd dose in October to November, and by March, it will be the 4th month," adding, "We are reviewing administering the 4th dose after 4 months and plan to decide and inform soon."