[Q&A] 'Gaeryang Vaccine' Against COVID Variants: Effectiveness and Introduction Schedule Unclear

If Fatality Rate Rises, 'Partial Social Distancing' for High-Risk Group Facilities
Healthy Adults Not Eligible for Vaccination Cannot Receive 4th Dose
Previously Confirmed Cases Can Receive 4th Dose After 3 Months

On the 13th, the COVID-19 testing center at Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 was crowded with overseas arrivals. The Central Disease Control Headquarters of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that as of midnight, the number of new confirmed cases was 40,266, including 398 imported cases. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The quarantine authorities have set the basic direction of the first COVID-19 resurgence measures since the new government took office as "voluntary social distancing based on public responsibility and autonomy." This means maintaining voluntary social distancing based on public responsibility and autonomy without strengthening quarantine measures such as restrictions on business hours or the number of people in gatherings. It was considered that measures controlling the daily lives of the public are less effective, and since daily recovery has already progressed significantly, public acceptance of time and personnel restriction measures is not high.

Instead, they decided to minimize damage by focusing on high-risk groups, such as expanding the 4th COVID-19 vaccination target to those aged 50 and over and those aged 18 and over with underlying conditions. The Central Disease Control Headquarters also stated, "If there is a significant change in the epidemic situation, such as an increase in the fatality rate, we will partially introduce (strengthened) social distancing."

Below is a summary of the Q&A from the Central Disease Control Headquarters briefing and others.

What is the basis for public participation-type quarantine?

Since the Omicron variant outbreak, the fatality rate has decreased from about 2.1% initially to about 0.07%. Effective response measures such as vaccines and therapeutics have also been largely secured, so even if confirmed cases increase, there are means to suppress progression to severe illness or death through early treatment. There is experience responding to 300,000 to 400,000 or more confirmed cases. Although the bed capacity has been reduced now, it can be quickly increased according to the situation.

Who will be targeted by social distancing measures considered if the COVID-19 fatality rate increases?

Adults aged 65 and over, immunocompromised individuals, and related facilities such as medical institutions and nursing facilities mainly used by them could be targeted.

Could the current resurgence phase be the start of the 6th wave?

It is difficult to judge at this time. Confirmed cases may increase and then decrease, or there is a sufficient possibility of entering a new wave. We will retrospectively judge by comprehensively considering epidemiological factors such as changes in variant prevalence and cluster outbreaks, as well as the trend of confirmed case increases.

Why are people in their 50s included in the 4th vaccination target despite having a lower fatality rate than average?

Although the fatality rate is low in people in their 50s, this is an age group where underlying conditions increase. For the same reason, the United States and Australia also include people in their 50s in the 4th vaccination target.

When will the 4th vaccination for people in their 50s start?

It will be implemented from the 18th of this month.

Can healthy adults aged 18 to under 50 without underlying conditions receive the 4th vaccination?

Healthy adults aged 18 to under 50 who are not workers at 4th vaccination target institutions such as nursing hospitals/facilities, mental health promotion facilities, facilities for the disabled, and homeless shelters are not eligible for vaccination.

What is the interval for the 4th vaccination if one has had a COVID-19 infection?

Unless contraindicated for COVID-19 vaccination, vaccination is recommended even if there is a history of infection. For basic (1st and 2nd) vaccinations after COVID-19 confirmation, vaccination is possible 3 weeks after the confirmation date; for additional (3rd and 4th) vaccinations after confirmation, vaccination is possible 3 months after the confirmation date.

Which vaccines can be used for the expanded 4th vaccination target?

mRNA vaccines are primarily recommended, and if mRNA vaccines are not preferred, Novavax vaccines can be used. The vaccine dosage is applied the same as for the 3rd vaccination.

If an updated vaccine will soon be introduced, is the 4th vaccination with existing vaccines meaningful?

We are continuously monitoring the development trends of updated vaccines with pharmaceutical companies, but currently, vaccine efficacy and introduction schedules are uncertain. Therefore, at this point before the resurgence, to prevent severe illness and death in high-risk groups, it is necessary to vaccinate quickly with the current vaccines whose effectiveness in preventing severe illness and death has been confirmed rather than waiting for updated vaccines. Even if updated vaccines are introduced, whether to expand vaccination to the entire population will be decided after discussing with manufacturers and monitoring research results regarding infection prevention effects.

Pfizer plans to release an updated vaccine effective against BA.5 around October; is it possible to introduce it within this year?

We cannot fully trust the pharmaceutical company's explanation. We will only know once the vaccine is actually available.

Are the opinions of the Infectious Disease Crisis Response Advisory Committee and the government aligned regarding quarantine measures?

The advisory committee generally agreed with the quarantine policy content prepared by the government. However, the advisory committee recommends the overall policy direction, and the government specifies and formulates the policy concretely. Whether to accept the advisory committee's recommendations is the government's decision, and the final responsibility lies with the government.

What does the current government mean by "scientific quarantine"?

As more data accumulates and the group of expert advisors grows, conditions are being created to make rational decisions based on collective intelligence. When there was no data and detailed information was unknown, uniform policies were implemented without sufficiently considering the characteristics of the target. Now, it means proceeding with more detailed and precise policy directions that consider the characteristics of the target population more carefully.