With South Korea announcing plans to allow COVID-19 vaccinations for those aged 12 to 17 starting from the fourth quarter of this year, health authorities have stressed their verified safety for minors. 

Kim Ki-nam, a senior official at the state vaccination task force, relayed the government position in a media briefing on Tuesday, saying the decision to lower the age threshold for COVID-19 vaccination from 18 to 12 announced the previous day was made based on numerous overseas research and multiple tests and trials. 

He said the Pfizer vaccine was proven to be safe and effective for those aged 12 and older and approved for use in various countries, including by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety of South Korea. The task force said minors will receive the Pfizer vaccine, as it is the only vaccine as of yet to have received approval from the country.

According to the task force, around 11-thousand-400 people aged 12 to 17 in South Korea were diagnosed with COVID-19 since the nation reported its first case in January of last year. Three of them developed severe symptoms.