Warning of COVID-19 Resurgence... Health Authorities Urge "Vaccination Before Summer Vacation"

Average Daily Confirmed Cases of 7,661 in the Past Week
4th Dose Vaccination Rate for Ages 60-70 at 23-45% Level

On the 25th, when the 4th COVID-19 booster vaccination for those aged 60 and over who made advance reservations began, a citizen is receiving the vaccine at Bumin Hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. April 25, 2022 Photo by Joint Press Corps (Portrait rights consent obtained)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] As the decline in the COVID-19 outbreak is showing signs of stagnation, the health authorities have once again urged people to get vaccinated before the summer vacation.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team issued a press release on the 30th, emphasizing that "despite the spread of the Omicron variant, COVID-19 vaccination is the most effective and important means to protect the health of oneself and family." They also stated, "To prevent severe illness and death, elderly people and those who have not yet been vaccinated are encouraged to participate in vaccination."

They also urged strict adherence to personal quarantine rules at enclosed, crowded, and close-contact vacation spots for a safe and healthy summer vacation. The Promotion Team said, "High-risk groups such as the elderly and those with underlying diseases should wear KF80 or higher-grade health masks, and if COVID-19 symptoms appear, they should promptly seek medical care and minimize contact with others."

Currently, the vaccination rates by dose relative to the population are 87.8% for the first dose and 87.0% for the second dose (including those who received a single Janssen vaccine dose). The third dose vaccination rate is 65%, with only 75.0% of eligible individuals vaccinated. The fourth dose, targeted at those aged 60 and above, has a vaccination rate of 31.0%, with only 35.1% of eligible individuals vaccinated. Notably, the fourth dose vaccination rates are low for both those in their 60s and 70s, at 23.3% and 45.3%, respectively.

The Promotion Team explained, "In the recent four weeks (May 22 to June 18), 86% of severe cases and 88% of deaths were concentrated in the age group 60 and above, increasing the need for additional vaccinations to prevent severe illness and death." They added, "The fourth dose can be administered starting four months after the third dose, and in addition to messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, it can also be given using the recombinant (synthetic antigen) Novavax vaccine."

The number of new COVID-19 cases has shown a strong stagnation trend starting this week. The average daily confirmed cases over the past week from the 24th were 7,661, an increase of 600 compared to 7,061 cases from the previous week (17th to 23rd).

Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, said at a briefing the day before, "The decline in confirmed cases appears to have entered a stagnation phase, and it is still difficult to judge this as a resurgence." He predicted, "It is highly likely that the outbreak will stabilize at a certain level or fluctuate slightly in small-scale increases or decreases."