COVID-19 Vaccination for High-Risk Groups Aged 65 and Older Extended Until End of June

KDCA: "We Cannot Rule Out the Possibility of a COVID-19 Outbreak in the Summer"

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on April 22 that the deadline for COVID-19 vaccination for high-risk groups, including seniors aged 65 and older, which was originally scheduled to end on April 30, will be extended until June 30.

The KDCA emphasized that the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks may increase not only in winter but also during the summer, and urged high-risk individuals to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

High-risk groups include seniors aged 65 and older, immunocompromised individuals aged six months and older, and residents or inpatients of facilities vulnerable to infection. Considering that it takes about four weeks for immunity to develop after vaccination, it is recommended to get vaccinated within the next month.

As of April 17, the COVID-19 vaccination rate among high-risk groups in Korea stood at 47.4%, which is less than half.

Even those in high-risk groups who have already been vaccinated may receive an additional dose after consulting with medical professionals if a significant amount of time has passed since their last shot. For immunocompromised individuals, additional vaccination is strongly recommended, as they may have difficulty developing immunity.

However, from May 1, the list of medical institutions providing COVID-19 vaccinations may change. Therefore, it is advisable to check the list of available medical institutions in advance on the Vaccination Helper website before visiting.

Ji Youngmi, Commissioner of the KDCA, stated, "Since we cannot rule out the possibility of a COVID-19 outbreak during the summer, I urge high-risk groups to actively participate in vaccination now to prevent severe illness and death caused by COVID-19."