Vaccinations Increased but Still Insufficient... "Worried About Getting 5 Shots with Different Types"

Care Facility Official: "There Will Be Residents Receiving Six Doses in the Future... Hope for Safety Explanations"

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] "Currently, about 20% of residents are due to receive their fifth COVID-19 vaccine dose. Many are worried about side effects since the vaccine types differ each time."

The secretary general of a nursing facility in Daejeon, A, said, "The atmosphere regarding vaccine participation is definitely different from last year," adding, "Many residents think they don't need any more vaccines because they've already had enough." He stated, "We emphasize the need to get vaccinated quickly to prevent severe illness, but there will be residents who receive more than six doses in the future, so we hope the government properly explains whether it is safe to continue getting vaccinated."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Since the start of vaccinations optimally targeting the dominant domestic Omicron variant BA.5, the number of participants has steadily increased, but it is still insufficient to reach the quarantine authorities' target.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's 'Daily Vaccination Status by Vaccine' on the 30th, the number of additional winter season vaccinations in the fourth week of November (21?27) was 624,455, an 89.3% increase compared to 329,907 in the week before Pfizer BA.4/5 vaccine administration began (7?13). It also rose 10.6% compared to 564,540 in the third week of November (14?20). The significant increase in vaccination participation is because the Pfizer BA.4/5 updated vaccine, effective against BA.5?a subvariant of Omicron dominant in Korea?became available for vaccination starting the 14th.

However, vaccination rates among high-risk COVID-19 groups remain insufficient. As of midnight on the 29th, the additional winter vaccination rate was only 19.5% for those aged 60 and over and 23.5% for residents of infection-vulnerable facilities. The quarantine authorities set a goal of 50% vaccination coverage for seniors aged 60 and above and 60% for residents and workers in infection-vulnerable facilities by December 18, but at the current pace, achieving these targets seems unlikely.

Moreover, the number of BA.1 vaccine recipients is observed to be declining. As of the 28th, the number of Moderna and Pfizer BA.1 updated vaccine recipients was 17,432 and 18,703, respectively, down 5.5% (1,019 people) and 0.6% (104 people) compared to a week earlier on the 21st (18,451 and 18,599).

While the spread of COVID-19 has slowed, the number of critically ill patients is approaching 500. After recording 400-level cases for 11 consecutive days since the 18th, there were 491 critical patients on both the 27th and 28th. COVID-19 deaths this month also reached 1,280 as of the previous day, a 76.8% increase compared to 724 during the same period last month. Baek Kyung-ran, director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said, "Since subvariants of the Omicron lineage continue to emerge this year and other lineages are not spreading, the ongoing bivalent vaccine administration is expected to be useful in controlling the epidemic situation," urging people to participate in vaccination.