"Annualization of 'COVID-19 Vaccine Like Flu Shot, Once a Year'" Introduced

The government is promoting COVID-19 vaccination to be administered once a year, similar to the flu vaccination.

Cho Kyu-hong, Minister of Health and Welfare (First Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for COVID-19), announced on the 22nd at a Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office that the "2023 COVID-19 Vaccination Basic Direction" has been established. All citizens will receive the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge between October and November. Immunocompromised individuals, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and those taking immunosuppressants, will receive vaccinations twice a year (2nd and 4th quarters). The type of vaccine administered will be determined based on development trends, circulating variants, and effectiveness.

The reason for promoting the annualization of COVID-19 vaccination is that about 70% of the Korean population has immunity against COVID-19. In particular, so-called "hybrid immunity," acquired through both vaccination and infection, has been shown to maintain antibodies that provide protection against severe illness and death for more than 10 months. The health authorities explained, "As of last month, the average duration between two infections is 10 months (309 days), which is 5 months longer than the 5 months (161 days) observed in July last year." According to the World Health Organization (WHO), even after 12 months from the first or second vaccination or infection, the effectiveness in preventing hospitalization and severe illness is 97.4%, and the effectiveness in preventing reinfection is 41.8%. However, Director Ji Young-mi of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency stated in a briefing, "This year's vaccination plan cannot be considered a regular vaccination," adding, "It is the annualization of temporary vaccinations." The inclusion of COVID-19 vaccination in the national regular immunization program is planned for next year, with decisions on target groups and timing to be made through review and resolution by the Vaccination Expert Committee.

The government's additional winter vaccination campaign using updated vaccines, which has been conducted since October last year, will end at midnight on the 8th of next month. Minister Cho said, "The achievement of preventing 143,000 deaths through vaccination over the past two years was possible due to nationwide participation," and added, "We ask everyone to actively participate in vaccination for yourself, your family, and your neighbors."