President Moon Jae-in on Oct. 15 gets a vaccine booster shot at the National Medical Center's vaccine center in Seoul's Jung-gu District. First lady Kim Jung-sook (right) waits for her turn. (Yonhap News)
By Kim Yeojin and Kim Hayeon
President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook on Oct. 15 received booster shots of a COVID-19 vaccine at the National Medical Center's vaccination center in Seoul's Jung-gu District.
The couple got their first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine on March 23 and their second on April 30 at the public health center in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. This time, however, they choose Pfizer's.
President Moon was inoculated ahead of his overseas trip scheduled for late this month. Those to accompany him also got booster shots on the same day or will on Oct. 18.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Oct. 12 began inoculating health care staff at hospitals specifically for coronavirus patients who were fully vaccinated six months (180 days) ago.
From Oct. 25, booster shots will go to people aged over 60 and those in high-risk groups who got their second shots six months ago.
If getting vaccinated after six months is difficult due to overseas travel or if booster shots are required before departure to prevent infection, boosters are allowed before the six-month period. The president and his entourage qualify for this exemption.
At this time, booster shots are only available at vaccination centers and designated medical institutions.
lvzhen@korea.kr
