A local infectious disease expert has given a gloomy assessment of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, saying despite the government's vaccination drive, it will be difficult to reach herd immunity.
Oh Myoung-don, head of the National Medical Center's committee for emerging infectious diseases, said Monday that COVID-19 will likely become an endemic that people will have to live with, like the seasonal flu.
He added that immunizing 70 percent of the population will not lead to the goal of herd immunity as there is yet a vaccine that is highly effective in preventing secondary transmission.
Oh stressed that the country's vaccine rollout should first be focused on protecting high-risk groups such as the elderly as it is yet unclear how long the vaccines will be able to prevent the disease.
