South Korea's health authorities have approved the use of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 65 and older.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA) announced the approval on Thursday after a deliberation by its vaccination committee the previous day. 

The committee recommended the use of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for the elderly in light of recent study results in Britain and Scotland indicating the efficacy for seniors over 70. 

With the approval, the inoculation campaign will now allow use of AstraZeneca products on all adults. Health authorities plan to inoculate 376-thousand patients or employees aged 65 or older at nursing homes within this month. 

The authorities initially excluded administering AstraZeneca to the elderly, citing insufficient clinical data.

In addition, the committee decided to extend the interval between the first and second doses for AstraZeneca vaccines from eight to ten to ten to 12 weeks. 

It made the decision in consideration of the vaccine supply and clinical trial results showing that a longer interval increases its effectiveness.