Updated COVID-19 Vaccines Roll Out in South Korea, Targeting High-Risk Groups
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A new phase of COVID-19 vaccination began in South Korea on Thursday, with the rollout of Moderna’s updated Spikebox LP vaccine specifically targeting high-risk individuals, including those aged 65 and older. The initiative aligns with the government’s plan for the 2025-2026 season and comes amid concerns about rising infection rates and increased travel following the Chuseok holiday.
Simultaneous Vaccination Recommended
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) is actively encouraging individuals to receive both the updated COVID-19 vaccine and the annual flu vaccine concurrently. According to studies conducted both domestically and internationally, the combined administration of these vaccines demonstrates comparable immune response and safety profiles to receiving them separately.
Did you know?-The updated vaccine rollout is part of a broader government strategy for the 2025-2026 season. This proactive approach aims to protect vulnerable populations from evolving COVID-19 strains, especially after increased travel during the chuseok holiday.
This suggestion is supported by the results of a phase 3 clinical trial evaluating simultaneous vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and a quadrivalent flu vaccine in individuals 65 years of age and older. The trial confirmed a robust immune response and an acceptable safety profile when both vaccines were administered at the same time.
Broad Protection Against Emerging Variants
Moderna’s updated Spikebox LP vaccine has been shown to induce a broad cross-immune response against the latest circulating COVID-19 mutations, including the LP.8.1 strain. Preliminary findings from a phase 4 clinical trial involving individuals aged 12 to 64 with underlying health conditions, as well as adults 65 and older, revealed that neutralizing antibodies against the LP.8.1 mutation increased by more than eightfold on average following vaccination with Spikebox LP.
Reader question:-Do you plan to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot? What factors are influencing your decision? share your thoughts on the importance of staying up-to-date with vaccinations.
“As the risk of infection has increased due to the recent spread of COVID-19 and large-scale movement during the Chuseok holiday, we recommend that high-risk groups such as the elderly and immunocompromised people increase their immunity by receiving COVID-19 and flu vaccinations simultaneously occurring,” stated a director of a Seoul internal medicine department.
The launch of the updated vaccine program represents a proactive step in protecting vulnerable populations as the virus continues to evolve and circulate.
