Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Omicron detected in 4 people administered with booster shots
A student receives a COVID-19 vaccine at a school in Gwangju, Dec. 16. Joint Press Corps
By Lee Hyo-jin
By Lee Hyo-jin
Four people have tested positive for the Omicron variant, even after receiving COVID-19 booster shots, prompting concerns that the inoculations may not offer protection from the new strain where three doses were previously thought to be sufficient.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 12 more Omicron cases for Saturday, pushing the total caseload to 178 after the first cases were detected here on Dec.1.
The 12 new infections were all detected in inbound travelers. Six cases were reported among people entering Korea from the United States, four from the United Kingdom, along with one each from Ghana and Tanzania.
Regarding the vaccination records of the total 178 patients, the KDCA said 88 were not vaccinated. Four people were partially vaccinated, meaning that they either received only the first dose, or two weeks haven't passed since their final doses.
Another 76 were fully vaccinated with two doses. Four people caught the variant even after being administered with a third shot. Health authorities noted that the vaccination records of the remaining six people were not available.
Real-world data about the Omicron variant is limited, but preliminary findings by researchers at Imperial College London in the UK showed that a booster shot provides around 80 to 86 percent protection against severe symptoms from the Omicron variant, compared to around 97 percent for the Delta variant.