Moon was vaccinated earlier in the day at a public health care center in Seoul and immediately got back to work, presidential office spokesman Kang Min Seok said at a briefing, adding that the president is doing well after the inoculation.

First lady Kim Jung Sook and several government officials who will accompany Moon on the trip to Britain were also vaccinated.

"President Moon emphasized the need to speed up the vaccine drive as it is being processed without any setback so that people can return to their ordinary life faster," said Kang.

South Korea launched a national coronavirus vaccination drive in late February, that initially saw health care workers and residents at nursing homes aged under 65 inoculated with either the AstraZeneca vaccine or one made by US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.

South Korean health authorities had voiced concerns over the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged 65 and older due to insufficient data on its safety for that age group. They also noted reports of blood clots among people who had received the vaccine in European countries.

But on Monday they said that based on new studies there was no correlation between the vaccine of the British biopharmaceutical company and the blood clots, adding they are set to expand the vaccine drive to those aged 65 and older at nursing homes.

An official from the presidential office said Monday that Moon, 68, hopes that everyone will willingly receive their shots and not worry about their safety.

South Korea reported 346 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, bringing the total to 99,421.

Popular

Furniture exporters decry new quarantine rule

BRICS shows internal rifts as ministers fall short of joint statement

EV industry urges govt to reinstate two-wheeler subsidies as market slows