The period of additional vaccination (booster shot) for the elderly and inpatients at nursing hospitals will be reduced from 6 months to 4 months after the completion of the basic vaccination.
The interval between booster vaccinations for people in their 50s, etc. will be shortened to 5 months.
Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom announced today (17th) at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Corona 19) presided over at the government complex in Sejong, saying, "There is an urgent need for additional vaccination to prevent breakthrough infection."
Prime Minister Kim said, "With this decision, a total of 13.78 million people will receive booster vaccinations by the end of the year. This is more than double the number originally planned." We ask for your active participation and cooperation in reservations."
He continued, "As the number of patients with severe cases exceeds 500, it is urgent to make efforts to protect the safety of the elderly who are vulnerable to Corona." %, accounting for about 97% of the deaths, so it is a very serious situation.”
Prime Minister Kim said, "The beds for critically ill patients are also being rapidly exhausted. The nationwide utilization rate of hospital beds is still there, but in the metropolitan area alone, it is too much to endure day by day."
Prime Minister Kim also said, "It is understood that the number of beds for critically ill patients in use is excessive compared to the actual number of critically ill patients. We ask that you continue to check and supplement so that power measures can be taken promptly.”
On the other hand, Prime Minister Kim pointed out that, regarding the assembly of the KCTU on the 13th, "The organizers declared strict observance of quarantine rules, but the quarantine rules were broken at the site on that day."
Referring to the gatherings planned by the public transport union, freight union, and railroad union, he asked, "I ask the labor community to make a forward-looking and wise decision even for the people who are anxiously practicing the gradual recovery of daily life that started with difficulty." .
(Photo = Yonhap News)