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| Vials of Cominarty, Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine targeting BA.4 and BA. 5 subvariants of Omicron are displayed in this photo. Courtesy of Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency |
By Lee Hyo-jin
Starting Monday, the administration of Pfizer's bivalent COVID-19 vaccines targeting the BA.1 subvariant of Omicron will be expanded to people aged 18 and above amid growing concerns over a resurgence of infections this winter.
The single booster dose of the updated vaccine can be administered four months after completion of a primary vaccination or infection, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The government had previously begun providing updated vaccines developed by Moderna to people in high-risk groups such as those aged 60 and above, as well as workers and residents in nursing homes.
The expansion comes as the spread of the coronavirus has apparently stopped slowing down with signs of a potential resurgence this winter. The KDCA reported 36,675 new infections for Saturday, a slight decrease after the country saw over 40,000 daily infections in the previous three consecutive days.
During a briefing held on Friday, the KDCA predicted that the country may see up to 200,000 daily infections in the winter, citing waning immunity levels among the population and the emergence of new variants.
The authorities noted that bivalent vaccines targeting BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants developed by Pfizer will be available to people aged 18 and above from Nov. 14. After gaining approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Oct. 17, 1.18 million doses of the vaccines were shipped to the country on Nov. 3.
While encouraging the public to actively receive an updated booster, the KDCA said it will announce on Wednesday detailed predictions on the winter virus situation as well as the government's response measures against the resurgence.
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