<Anchor>
The government's top priority for quarantine is the protection of high-risk groups.
So, the government is releasing the 4th vaccination plan tomorrow (the 14th).
High-risk groups with reduced vaccine effectiveness after receiving the third dose last year are expected to be prioritized.
Also, the first dose of Novavax vaccine will start tomorrow.
This is a report by reporter Kim Deok-hyun.
<Reporter>
The third vaccination started at the end of October last year.
Priority was given to high-risk groups, such as the elderly over the age of 60, and the government is planning to proceed with the fourth vaccination first.
This is because nearly four months have passed since the third inoculation, so the vaccine effectiveness has decreased.
[Jung Eun-kyung / Director of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (last 7 days): We are considering an interval of about 4 months for the 4th vaccination.
Most of the time from the end of February to March is four months, so we are preparing a plan for that time.]
Those with weakened immune systems that do not form well with antibodies and residents of nursing facilities with many cluster infections are considered as a priority. The detailed vaccination plan will be revealed tomorrow.
Novavax vaccination will also start tomorrow for those 18 years of age and older who have not been vaccinated.
Quarantine authorities are expecting the Novavax vaccine to be an alternative to Pfizer or Moderna, or those who are reluctant to get vaccinated.
This is because it is a traditional protein recombination method used in hepatitis B and cervical cancer vaccines.
Vaccination starts first for high-risk groups in hospitals or facilities, and even those who are not vaccinated can use the residual vaccine on SNS or register on the hospital reserve list to receive the same-day inoculation.
People who cannot get a second dose due to side effects after receiving the previous vaccine can receive a third dose with Novavax vaccine.
(Video editing: Park Ki-duk)