<Anchor> The



quarantine authorities decided to reduce the interval between booster vaccinations in order to catch the increase in severe cases due to breakthrough infection among the elderly, the biggest problem at present. A plan to reduce the vaccination interval from six months to four months for those in their 60s or older and to five months for those in their 50s is likely to be announced today (17th).



This is reporter Jeong Ban-seok.



<Reporter> The Korea



Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Immunization Committee discussed booster shots and booster vaccination intervals based on domestic data analyzed by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).



Considering that immunity is highest for 2 or 3 months after receiving the vaccine and then falls after 6 months, the medical community judged that this is the time for booster vaccination.



The US and UK are following suit.



However, an expert member of the Inoculation Committee said that there are many domestic and foreign circumstances that do not fit this scenario.



So, we said that it is likely to be moved forward by four months for those in their 60s or older and by five months for those in their 50s.



In August, we analyzed 1,540 infected people among those who completed the vaccination, with 0.97% of cases in severe cases and 0.13% of deaths.



But recently things have gotten worse.



The proportion of those who completed vaccination among deaths was less than 3% in August, but has recently risen to 35%.



Even if people who were vaccinated contracted the coronavirus, it was fine in August, but now it is dangerous.



In particular, those in their 60s or older are a problem, and if you look at the death trend over the past five weeks, the death rate in those over 60 continues to increase.



[Choi Jae-wook/Professor of Preventive Medicine, Korea University: Even in the elderly, those who have existing diseases, are currently recuperating, or are in a nursing home or facility are at much more risk.] Even people in their



50s have been shown to have a higher risk of severe risk after five months after completing the vaccination.



Whether booster vaccination is the real solution is debated, but for now it appears to be the only option to reduce mortality among older adults.



The government is planning to announce a plan to shorten the booster vaccination period by age group today.