The quarantine authorities will expand the use of SKYCovione, the first homegrown Covid-19 vaccine developed by SK Bioscience, to provide third and fourth shots.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDCSH) announced the “additional vaccination plan for SKYCovione” in a briefing Friday.

Health workers have used SKYCovine to provide first and second shots for unvaccinated adults 18 and older since Sept. 5. Researchers recently conducted a study on third and fourth shots and confirmed its efficacy and safety, the headquarters said.

Encouraged by the result, the quarantine authorities have decided to use SKYCovione for additional vaccination on a limited basis after a meeting of the Immunization Expert Committee.

However, the authorities will first recommend mRNA vaccines, such as Pfizer’s and Moderna’s, for additional vaccination while providing SKTCovione shots for people 18 and older who have completed first and second vaccination but cannot or will not receive mRNA shots.

Those who want to receive SKYCovione shots for additional vaccination can make a reservation on the internet and at the KDCA’s call center from Monday and begin to take shots a week from then. Leftover vaccine reservations or same-day vaccinations will be available from Monday.

“SKYCovione is a genetically modified vaccine widely used in existing vaccines, such as cervical cancer vaccines, and has been confirmed to be safe,” the headquarter said. “It can also be used for additional vaccination for people who cannot mRNA vaccines, so we ask the public to participate actively in the third and fourth vaccinations.”