[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The government will announce a plan to expand the target of the 4th COVID-19 vaccination to the elderly on the 13th.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 12th, the quarantine authorities held a Vaccination Expert Committee meeting on the afternoon of the 11th to discuss the criteria for administering the 4th dose to the elderly, and then finalized the vaccination plan at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 13th. The plan will be disclosed through a briefing at 2:30 PM on the same day.
Currently, the 4th vaccination in Korea is being administered to immunocompromised individuals who have completed the 3rd dose, as well as inpatients, residents, and workers of nursing hospitals, facilities, and mental health promotion facilities.
However, since the proportion of new confirmed cases aged 60 and over has recently been around 20%, and about 95% of deaths have occurred among the elderly aged 60 and above, the quarantine authorities have been considering expanding the 4th vaccination target to include the elderly. Although 90% of those aged 60 and above have completed the 3rd dose, the effectiveness of the vaccination decreases over time.
Earlier, Kwon Geun-yong, head of the Vaccination Management Team at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Group, stated at a press briefing on the 30th of last month, "Even if the 4th vaccination is deemed necessary, there is no country targeting those under 50," and added, "It is necessary to consider focusing on the elderly domestically as well."
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