<Anchor> In the



fourth quarter, the government has decided to start booster vaccination for seniors aged 60 and over and medical staff, and also reduce the interval between Pfizer and Moderna vaccines' first and second doses again. The government today announces the 4th quarter vaccination plan with this information. 



Reporter Park Soo-jin.



<Reporter> The



booster shot to increase the effectiveness of vaccination, that is, additional vaccination, is the first for high-risk groups such as the elderly over 60 and workers in medical institutions.



In the case of the elderly, the completion rate of vaccination exceeds 80%, but 7 out of 10 new confirmed patients in their 70s or older have a breakthrough infection.



[Jung Eun-kyung/Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: In the case of the elderly, the risk of breakthrough infection is higher because immunity is formed or immunity is weaker than that of younger people.]



Pfizer and Moderna Vaccine 1st and 2nd vaccination The interval will be reduced from the current 6 weeks to 3 or 4 weeks.



As the government has set the prerequisite for a step-by-step recovery of daily life to be 70% of the public inoculated, it is interpreted as an intention to quickly increase the inoculation completion rate by shortening the inoculation interval.



From next month, more than 2.76 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 will also receive the vaccine.



Currently, Pfizer's vaccine is the only vaccine in Korea that is licensed for use over the age of 12.



Vaccinations for more than 270,000 pregnant women will also begin, and they are expected to receive Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.



The specific Q4 vaccination plan will be announced this afternoon.