Public irked by government's flip-flopping on AstraZeneca vaccines

People are being observed for possible side effects after receiving their COVID-19 shots at a vaccination center in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap

By Lee Hyo-jin

The government's recent decision to revise the age limit on AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine as a measure to use leftover doses effectively has deepened public distrust in the nationwide vaccination drive.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Friday that people aged 30 and above are now allowed to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, a change from its previous policy that the product is only available to those aged over 50, due to concerns over blood clotting side effects.

The decision to expand eligible recipients came as many unused doses have been wasted recently, as they were not booked through the online reservation system.

“Amid the fourth wave of infections, we have decided to give more opportunities to people who wish to be vaccinated ahead of their inoculation schedule, while providing them with sufficient information on the advantages and potential risks of receiving the vaccine,” said KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong in a briefing.

This is the second time that the Korean government has readjusted the age restriction on the AstraZeneca shot, which had been initially approved only for use on people aged 65 and older here.

In April, the KDCA restricted its use on people under 30 due to possible side effects.

Later in July, the agency raised the minimum age of eligibility to 50, citing concerns over thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a rare case of blood clotting, following the death of a man in his 30s who had suffered from the syndrome after receiving the vaccine.

This photo taken on Friday shows a smartphone screen of maps of available AstraZeneca COVID-19 leftover vaccine slots in areas of Seoul. Yonhap

Medical experts pointed out that the government's flip-flopping on age limits will not be effective in making use of leftover AstraZeneca vaccines, warning that this back and forth may deepen public distrust regarding its vaccination drive.

“The government has once again changed the age restriction without providing scientific data to back up the decision. It is making individuals shoulder its responsibility to ensure vaccine safety,” said Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital.

Chon Eun-mi, a professor at Ewha Womans University Medical Center said, “It seems unclear who will take the responsibility in any cases of fatal TTS side effects. The latest decision not only goes against the principles set by the government itself, but will also lead to public confusion.”

She suggested that offering the doses to other countries through COVAX would have been a better way to handle the leftover AstraZeneca vaccines effectively.

The government's inconsistent vaccine policies, along with lingering jitters over vaccine safety in general, seem to be making younger people reluctant to get the vaccine.

Since Aug. 9, the government has been receiving reservations among people aged from 18 to 49, allowing them to book their vaccine slots on a designated day, depending on the last digit of their birthdate.

According to the KDCA, as of Sunday, 4.7 million out of the 7.8 million eligible recipients have made an appointment. The reservation rate stood at 60 percent, falling short of the government's expectation of 70 percent, and that of people in their 50s, which recorded around 80 percent.