Novavax Pre-Reservation Starts from the 21st... Vaccination Begins from the 7th of Next Month

Nursing Hospitals and Facilities 4th Dose Recipients Expected to Increase from the 28th
"4th Dose for Elderly Not Currently Under Review"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] Starting from the 21st, advance reservations for the Novavax vaccine will begin for unvaccinated adults aged 18 and over.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team (Promotion Team) on the 17th, from midnight on the 21st, unvaccinated individuals aged 18 and over can make advance reservations for the Novavax vaccine through the reservation website. Elderly people who find it difficult to make reservations themselves can also use proxy reservations via the website or phone reservations.

Those who complete advance reservations can receive their vaccination on the reserved date starting from the 7th of next month at approximately 12,900 designated medical institutions nationwide. The second dose will be automatically scheduled three weeks after the first dose.

Since the 14th, same-day vaccinations have been conducted at designated medical institutions and public health centers that have the Novavax vaccine in stock. It is possible to receive same-day vaccination by reserving leftover vaccines through KakaoTalk or Naver, or by confirming availability via phone at medical institutions and registering on a standby list.

Cross-vaccination and third doses using the Novavax vaccine are also available. Whether receiving the primary vaccination with Novavax or having received the first and second doses with other vaccines but unable to receive the same vaccine for medical reasons, cross-vaccination with Novavax is possible.

As of this date, a total of 14,466 people have completed the first dose with the Novavax vaccine, 444 have completed the second dose, and 1,439 have received the third dose.

The fourth dose for immunocompromised individuals and residents and workers of long-term care hospitals and facilities has also been administered since the 14th. Immunocompromised individuals aged 18 and over who have completed the third dose and for whom 4 months (120 days) have passed since the third dose can receive mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer or Moderna. Currently, only same-day vaccinations are available, but from the 28th, vaccination dates can be selected through advance reservations.

For residents and workers of long-term care hospitals and facilities, vaccination with mRNA vaccines is possible after 120 days from the third dose completion, but in cases of group infections or quarantine concerns, vaccination can be done after 3 months (90 days). Recently, the number of group infections and related confirmed cases in long-term care hospitals and facilities has surged from 15 cases and 827 people to 48 cases and 1,543 people over the past 4 weeks.

Gwon Geun-yong, head of the Vaccination Management Team of the Promotion Team, explained, "Since advance reservations for the fourth dose start on the 28th, the number of vaccinations this week is not expected to increase significantly," adding, "Long-term care hospitals and facilities generally began the third dose in mid-November last year, so the fourth dose will be actively administered after the 28th when 3 to 4 months have passed."

He also reaffirmed that expanding the fourth dose to the entire elderly population is not currently under consideration. Team leader Gwon stated, "The fourth dose is targeted at immunocompromised individuals and long-term care hospitals and facilities. The target groups were announced after reviewing various vulnerabilities to infection and severe illness such as group facilities and elderly patients with underlying conditions," and added, "At this point, the fourth dose for the general elderly population is not being considered."