S. Korea to Begin Vaccination of Pregnant Women as it Reaches Its 80% Target

The Index Today

South Korea’s latest vaccine rollout is targeted towards pregnant women as the country moves towards reaching its immunization goal of 80% of adults.

Health officials are now prioritization pregnant women and are boosting participation with the help of public notices and conferences. It has been reported that such women may have a higher risk of infection and even death caused by Covid.

KDCA director Jeong Eun-kyeong said during a public briefing, “The vaccines are safe for pregnant women and can meaningfully decrease their risks of contracting Covid-19 and becoming critically ill.”

According to reports by the KDCA, around 2% of pregnant women aged 20-45 were six times more likely to develop a serious illness. The percentage was derived from a sample set of 731 pregnant women. However, despite the new vaccine rollout, doctors have said that women with pregnancies below 12 weeks should consult with a healthcare professional first.

The government has also initiated plans to start vaccination of children aged 12-17 along with booster shots for people aged 75 and above. Around 63% of the country’s population has been fully vaccinated so far and plans to reach its goal of 80% by the end of the month.

©Photo: Reuters