Ministry of the Interior and Safety and KDCA Urge Local Governments to "Thoroughly Prepare for COVID-19 Vaccination"

Video Conference of the '1st Central-Local Policy Council' on the 18th

Medical staff are busy moving around at a temporary screening clinic set up at Seoul Station Plaza on the 30th, as a year-end cold wave arrives with temperatures dropping sharply overnight. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 17th that it will hold the 2021 "1st Central-Local Policy Council" on the 18th via a non-face-to-face video conference, with related ministries and vice heads of 17 cities and provinces participating, marking the first meeting since Minister Jeon Hae-cheol took office.

At this meeting, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) plans to request active preparations such as the formation of 'COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Forces' by local governments to ensure rapid and safe vaccination, as vaccine supplies exceeding 100% of the population (approximately 56 million doses) have been secured. In particular, based on KDCA guidelines, local governments are expected to establish temporary vaccination plans by the end of January to thoroughly prepare all necessary measures for vaccination implementation, including vaccination personnel and sites.

The Ministry of Employment and Labor will provide guidance on the second phase of the emergency employment stabilization support project for general taxi drivers as a detailed measure of the 'Customized Damage Support Plan in Response to the 3rd Wave of COVID-19' and urge active participation. During the COVID-19 spread period, 80,000 corporate taxi drivers whose income (sales) decreased due to fewer passengers will receive 500,000 KRW per person as income stabilization funds. Once applications are received by local governments, payments will be made after verifying income reduction and length of service requirements.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will introduce this year's key initiatives for restoring daily life and advancing as a leading nation and request active work promotion from local governments. In particular, it will urge thorough COVID-19 quarantine and vaccination preparations and proactive disaster safety management such as disaster prevention. It will encourage the prompt execution of local love gift certificates and local job projects, as well as the promotion of regional balanced New Deal projects, while requesting cooperation to ensure the local autonomous police system is firmly established on the ground. Additionally, cooperation will be requested from the 17 cities and provinces on major national government agendas of each ministry, and local government proposals on regional issues will be conveyed.

Minister Jeon Hae-cheol of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety said, "To ensure that vaccination proceeds smoothly and stably, all processes including delivery, storage, vaccination, and post-management must be thoroughly prepared through close cooperation between the KDCA, related ministries, and local governments," and added, "to stabilize the income of vulnerable employment groups such as corporate taxi drivers affected by the third wave of COVID-19, each local government should promptly finalize the list of recipients and actively cooperate to ensure that support funds are quickly disbursed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.