S.Korea to administer second COVID-19 booster shot to age 60

South Korea’s will administer a second COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for people over 60 as the country continues to battle the highly contagious Omicron variant.

According to health Minister, Kwon Deok-cheol, “The government plans to expand the fourth round of vaccination to those aged 60 and older, the infection rate in the age group has continued to rise to stand above 20 per cent.”

The country had previously begun providing second booster shots to high-risk groups, including those in nursing homes.

South Korea reported 195,419 new COVID-19 cases as of midnight on Tuesday, bringing the country’s total tally to 15,830,644 infections and 20,034 deaths.

So far, over 316,608 people have received a second booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccine, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency data showed, with around 33 million people 64.2 per cent of the total population having received a first booster shot.

The health ministry also said, it will announce amendments to the current social distancing rules on Friday.

“A complete removal of all limits on the opening hours of businesses and private gatherings were among measures being considered as the effectiveness of the distancing rules have been declining.

“The current mask-wearing mandate is also on the list of measures being reviewed,” he said.

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Reuters