'When can I get my COVID-19 vaccine?': Korea's vaccination plan explained

By Lee Hyo-jin

With COVID-19 vaccines set to roll out here Feb. 26, all eyes are on who will be the first to receive the shots and in what order everyone else will be vaccinated.

As the health authorities are planning to inoculate 70 percent of the population, or up to 36 million people, by September with the hopes of achieving herd immunity by November, they have divided the vaccination schedule into four stages, spelling out the groups by each quarter in order of priority.

Below are some questions and answers on how, when and where COVID-19 vaccinations will take place here, based on information provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

Q. Who will receive the vaccines first?

Patients, medical staff and caregivers under the age of 65 at nursing homes, estimated to be up to around 272,000 people, will be inoculated with the first batch of AstraZeneca's doses starting from Feb. 26. Elderly citizens aged 65 or over have been excluded from the first phase due to a lack of data to support the efficacy of the drug company's vaccine on senior citizens.

Starting from March 8, medical personnel working in "high-risk" medical institutions such as general hospitals, estimated to be about 354,000 people, will be vaccinated. These vaccinations will be followed by 78,000 front-line COVID-19 responders, including emergency workers and epidemiological investigators, who will be inoculated starting March 22.

In addition, around 55,000 medical workers in coronavirus treatment facilities will receive vaccines from Pfizer by the end of March.

Q. What are the plans for the second quarter?

Inoculations in the second quarter will start with senior citizens aged 65 or over, including 370,000 elderly patients in nursing homes.

In addition, healthcare workers at medical institutions who have not been inoculated in the first quarter, as well as caregivers and patients at care homes for the disabled and homeless shelters, will receive vaccines within the second quarter.

In the third quarter, vaccinations will be largely expanded to citizens aged between 18 and 64, including those with chronic illnesses. Also, social service workers such as military service members, police officers and workers at education institutions will receive the shots.

Citizens who have not received a shot by September and those requiring re-vaccination will be offered vaccinations during the fourth quarter.

Children under 18 and pregnant women are excluded from the vaccination plans due to a lack of clinical data. Inoculations for them will be decided depending on further data.

Medical workers attend a training session to learn how to give coronavirus vaccine shots at the Korean Nurses Association in Seoul, Feb. 17. AP-Yonhap

Q. How many doses has Korea secured?

The country has so far secured 152 million doses, available for around 79 million people, which is 1.5 times the total population. Most of them are scheduled to arrive between the second and fourth quarters.

Doses available to inoculate around 69 million people have been secured through separate contracts with five pharmaceutical companies.

Korea will get enough vaccines for 20 million people each from Moderna and AstraZeneca. The supply from Pfizer vaccines will be available for 13 million people, and 6 million people from Johnson & Johnson. The latest deal with Novavax, signed on Feb. 16, has secured doses available for 20 million people.

The remaining supply ― doses for 10 million people ― will be delivered through the COVAX facility, the global initiative for vaccine development and procurement.

Q. How many shots are needed for each vaccine?

The number of shots required varies by product. Vaccines from AstraZeneca and Moderna are administered in a two-dose regimen, and the second shot should be given within 28 days of the first dose. Products from Pfizer and Novavax also require two injections, with the second shot to be provided within 21 days of the first. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is administered as a single dose.

Q. Can individuals choose the type of vaccine they want?

No. The KDCA has made it clear that individuals will not be able to choose the vaccine they want, in order to minimize confusion. As it is yet uncertain exactly how much supply will be delivered each time, it will be difficult to give people options in the nationwide vaccination program.

A medical worker puts vaccine samples into a freezer at the vaccination center of the National Medical Center in Seoul during a vaccination mock drill conducted on Feb. 3. / Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hun

Q. Where will the vaccinations take place?

The government plans to inoculate using the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna at 250 vaccination centers across the country, considering the tricky requirements of the ultra-cold supply chain. The centers will be set up in cooperation with local governments.

Inoculation using the virus vector vaccines from AstraZeneca, Novavax and Johnson & Johnson will be available at 10,000 designated private medical institutions.

The health authorities will visit nursing homes and hospitals to administer the vaccines to senior citizens and patients who are limited from going outdoors.

Q. Will foreigners get the vaccines for free?

Foreign residents who are registered on the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) will receive the vaccines free of charge. The order in which foreign nationals will be administered is based on the same scheme applied to Korean citizens.

Undocumented foreigners will also be vaccinated, if necessary, depending on consideration of the potential impacts on public health, further COVID-19 spread and high-risk groups.

Q. How can individuals register for vaccination?

People eligible for inoculation will be informed by the health authorities in advance when their turn is coming. The government plans to enable an online reservation system through the governmental website on COVID-19 vaccines at ncv.kdca.go.kr or through the 1339 hotline.