Here... in Korea... starting on this Thursday... those... who were fully inoculated... overseas...
have access... to COVID-19 vaccination incentives. For more... I have Choi Won-Jong ... here
in the studio. Won-jong... welcome.
Good afternoon.
So... starting today... EVEN those... who were vaccinated... outside of Korea... can
indulge... in incentives... for social gatherings... and more?
Yes, that is correct. A lot of people who have gotten their COVID-19
vaccines outside of Korea,... have found it difficult... to prove their inoculation status...
when visiting coffee shops and restaurants. MEANING... they weren't eligible for vaccine
incentives. Kicking off Thursday though... those who come
to Korea with a quarantine exemption document can prove their inoculation status... meaning
they are now able to get the benefits of being vaccinated.
They can register their information online, using apps like 'Coov' at local health centers.
This will help travelers inoculated abroad and U.S. soldiers stationed in Korea prove
their vaccination status. However, it only applies to vaccines that
are approved by the WHO.
Meanwhile... Won-jong... I hear... a new side effect... has been added... to the list of
health conditions... following COVID-19 vaccination?
Yes, it's called menstrual disorder. Actually there used to be only SEVEN items
on the list of covid vaccine side effects. However, Korea's health authorities are trying
to cover a wider range of symptoms now... to strengthen the monitoring system for COVID
vaccination. Take a look at this up on your screen right
now. We have fever... pain... swelling and redness...
vomiting... headache... fatigue... allergic reaction... and now menstrual disorder has
been included.
Moving forward... Won-jong... what's the latest... on offering... enhanced protection... against
COVID-19?
Well... Sunhee... as you know, health authorities have started taking vaccine reservations for
booster shots.... for groups who are mostly exposed to a higher risk... of catching COVID-19.
And... reservations for booster shots have been launched?
Yes, just briefly... bookings for booster shot vaccination has been started since Tuesday.
For those with underlying conditions, it starts in October 18th.
The actual vaccination will kick off in October 25th.
And... who is eligible?
Since October 5th, those in their 60s and most medical workers have been able to apply
for their booster jab. They are getting an mRNA vaccine from either
Pfizer or Moderna. To clarify this a little more... if you previously
got the Pfizer vaccine for all doses, you will get another Pfizer shot.
And, if you had two doses of Moderna's shot... your extra shot will also be from Moderna.
However if you were administered with AstraZeneca's vaccine, you will still receive either Pfizer
or Moderna.
What if you had the AstraZeneca... for the first dose... and Pfizer for the second...
what will the third booster vaccine be?
They will still get either Pfizer or Moderna's vaccine.
But the booster shot for Janssen has not been decided yet. We will see.
Also I'd like to point out... research says the effectiveness of Pfizer's booster shot
is 11 times higher for preventing the infection... and 19 times higher for preventing severe
cases... compared to does who didn't have an extra shot.
Won-jong,
as always, thank you
for your report.