Increase in Confirmed Cases in Hong Kong and Taiwan
Free Vaccinations for Seniors Until June
Jeonnam Province recommends COVID-19 vaccination for high-risk groups aged 65 and over. Photo by Jeonnam Province
Jeonnam Province has urged high-risk groups, including seniors aged 65 and over, to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in response to the recent increase in confirmed cases and deaths in neighboring countries such as Hong Kong and Taiwan.
The free COVID-19 vaccination program for the 2024-2025 season, which began on October 11 last year, targets seniors aged 65 and over, immunocompromised individuals aged six months and older, and residents or inpatients of infection-prone facilities. Those who have not yet been vaccinated can receive the vaccine until the end of June. Before visiting, individuals should check with their local public health center to confirm which medical institutions are offering vaccinations.
As of May 20, the vaccination rate in the Jeonnam region stands at 55.3% (compared to the national average of 47.4%), the highest in the country. However, one out of every two high-risk individuals in the region remains unvaccinated.
Considering the patterns seen in previous years, there is a possibility of a summer surge. Additionally, the viruses currently circulating overseas have been shown to elicit effective immune responses from the vaccines in use, confirming their preventive efficacy.
It is recommended to get vaccinated as early as possible, taking into account the time required for sufficient immunity to develop (four weeks) after vaccination.
Jeonnam Province is closely monitoring local case trends in light of the recent rise in confirmed cases and deaths in neighboring countries. Since COVID-19 was reclassified as a Class 4 infectious disease in August 2023, sample surveillance has been conducted at nine medical institutions in the province and 221 nationwide. In Jeonnam, the number of cases has remained stable, with zero to three cases reported per week.
If the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increases nationwide or if sample surveillance in the province detects 10 or more cases, Jeonnam Province plans to expand its surveillance system by adding 112 additional hospital-level institutions.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
