Rep. Lee Hyung-seok: "Tailored Local COVID-19 Vaccination Support Measures Must Be Devised"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Rep. Lee Hyung-seok (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangju Buk-gu Eul) voiced the need for tailored vaccine inoculation support based on the region's population density and the location of medical institutions.

On the 17th, during the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's work report to the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, Rep. Lee said, "The COVID-19 vaccination starting on the 26th must proceed smoothly to achieve herd immunity and ultimately allow all citizens to regain their daily lives," adding, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety should provide full support considering the conditions of each region."

Rep. Lee explained the recent analysis by the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements on the potential demand for designated medical institutions for influenza vaccination targeting seniors aged 65 and older.

In the case of Gwangju Metropolitan City, the proportion of medical institutions expecting more than 700 vaccine recipients reached 38%, indicating the highest congestion nationwide.

According to Rep. Lee, this raises concerns not only about vaccine inoculation congestion but also about the possibility that vaccine recipients may have to wait for long hours or fail to receive the vaccine within the given period.

Rep. Lee emphasized, "Preemptive measures must be prepared to dispel concerns about congestion," and stressed, "Above all, special financial support considering various conditions such as regional fiscal requirements must be provided."

In response, Jeon Hae-cheol, Minister of the Interior and Safety, replied, "We will thoroughly prepare to ensure that local governments do not lack budgets related to vaccination," and added, "We will review the situation in Gwangju, where congestion is high, to ensure there are no disruptions in vaccination."

Along with this, Rep. Lee also advocated for the necessity of tailored countermeasures to ensure that the vaccination process for seniors aged 65 and older, which will be fully implemented in the second quarter, from application and guidance to inoculation and post-management, can be conducted more safely and smoothly.

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