Minister Jeon Hae-cheol of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety Visits Honam Regional Vaccination Center Site

COVID-19 Vaccinations to Begin This Month for Medical Staff Treating Confirmed Patients

On the afternoon of the 9th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, is moving to the meeting room with Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, who visited Gwangju to check the preparation status of the COVID-19 vaccine Honam Regional Vaccination Center at the College of Medicine, Chosun University in Dong-gu. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] As Gwangju Metropolitan City is stepping up final preparations for COVID-19 vaccinations by the end of this month, Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, visited Gwangju on the afternoon of the 9th to inspect the overall progress of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign and held a meeting with related personnel.

On the same day, Minister Jeon toured the Gwangju e-Sports Stadium located within Chosun University, where the Honam Regional Vaccination Center will be established.

The Honam Regional Vaccination Center plans to vaccinate 4,000 people, including medical staff from base dedicated hospitals in Gwangju, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, and Jeju regions, infectious disease dedicated hospitals, severe patient treatment beds, and residential treatment centers, starting from the end of this month.

It will also play a role in training and educating personnel operating the regional vaccination centers.

Gwangju’s vaccination centers are planned to be set up at six locations: ▲Chosun University Hospital Honam Regional Vaccination Center ▲Dong-gu Cultural Center ▲Seo-gu Yeomju Sports Complex ▲Nam-gu Multipurpose Gymnasium ▲Buk-gu Chonnam National University Sports Center ▲Gwangsan-gu Veterans Hospital Rehabilitation Gymnasium.

The vaccination centers are broadly divided into four zones: a temperature check and questionnaire area, a vaccination area, an observation area for monitoring adverse reactions post-vaccination, and a vaccine storage area.

During the meeting with local council members from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, city medical association, nursing association, Chosun University Hospital, and Chonnam National University Hospital, Minister Jeon discussed support measures for smooth COVID-19 vaccination in the Honam region, securing medical staff for regional vaccination centers, and establishing an emergency response system to prepare for adverse reactions after vaccination.

Minister Jeon said, “The four regional vaccination centers nationwide, including the National Medical Center, hold symbolic significance as the first places where vaccine administration begins. I hope they will serve as a standard model for upcoming regional vaccination centers by providing education and training for vaccination personnel and playing an important role.”

He added, “To alleviate public anxiety about the vaccine’s efficacy and safety, it is essential to meticulously plan the vaccination schedule in advance, transparently disclose the vaccination process, and manage data thoroughly after vaccination so that our country can become a new global model for vaccine administration. I urge local governments and regional medical personnel to take a leading role in creating a national success model.”

Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop stated, “We will do our best without letting our guard down to ensure that vaccinations are carried out safely and swiftly for citizens eagerly awaiting the full supply of vaccines and treatments. At the same time, we will make every effort in quarantine management to prevent the vaccination from leading to complacency or a decline in vigilance and sense of crisis regarding COVID-19 in the local community.”

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