[Q&A] First COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients List Released... 93.8% Consent to Vaccination

Vaccinations Start on the 26th... 344,181 People Including Nursing Hospital and COVID Medical Staff Say "I Will Get Vaccinated"

On the 19th, at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, a COVID-19 vaccine vehicle loaded on an Air Force transport aircraft was secured by military personnel during the 2nd integrated government-wide vaccine distribution drill. Today's drill involves loading vaccine transport vehicles onto military aircraft to transport vaccines in case civilian air transport to island regions is restricted. / February 19, 2021 Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As COVID-19 vaccinations are set to begin on the 26th, the government has finalized the list of first-dose recipients. The government announced that 93.6% of the target recipients for the AstraZeneca vaccine, including nursing hospitals, elderly care facilities, and mental health rehabilitation centers, have agreed to be vaccinated, and 94.6% of the medical staff at COVID-19 treatment hospitals designated to receive the Pfizer vaccine have consented to vaccination. We address common questions ahead of the first COVID-19 vaccinations in Korea.

Who are the first recipients, and what is the consent rate?

▲ As of midnight on the 20th, a total of 366,959 people were registered as vaccination targets, of whom 344,181 agreed to vaccination, showing a consent rate of 93.8%. Among the 308,930 recipients under 65 years old who will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine at nursing hospitals, elderly care facilities, and mental health rehabilitation centers, 289,271 (93.6%) agreed to vaccination. Among the 58,029 recipients at COVID-19 treatment hospitals who will receive the Pfizer vaccine, 54,910 (94.6%) consented to vaccination.

What is the detailed vaccination schedule for the AstraZeneca vaccine?

▲ Vaccines will be allocated to nursing hospitals and public health centers, and delivery schedules will be arranged for sequential delivery starting from the 25th. Nursing hospitals are to complete their own vaccinations within five days after receiving the vaccine, and public health centers plan to complete on-site or in-house vaccinations at nursing facilities within their jurisdiction by the end of March. By the 28th, registration of vaccination targets and confirmation of consent are ongoing for hospital-level or higher medical institution workers, patients and staff of psychiatric medical institutions operating closed wards, and first responders to COVID-19, with first-dose vaccinations scheduled for March.

How will the first Pfizer vaccine vaccinations proceed?

▲ The Pfizer vaccine will be delivered immediately upon arrival in Korea to five central vaccination centers, starting with the Central Vaccination Center. For medical institutions conducting their own vaccinations, such as infectious disease-dedicated hospitals, vaccination personnel will receive training and practice at vaccination centers before administering vaccines. The first dose is planned to be completed in March.

If a nursing facility worker refuses vaccination, will their work be restricted?

▲ Even if workers at nursing hospitals or nursing facilities refuse vaccination, the government is not considering restricting their work. Vaccination participation is voluntary. For unvaccinated workers, PCR testing is already conducted at least once a week to thoroughly prevent the virus from entering nursing hospitals or nursing facilities.

If one refuses vaccination at their turn, they are pushed to a later priority. What happens then?

▲ Refusal results in postponement to a later priority, meaning vaccination will occur after all citizens have been vaccinated, likely after November. However, for new residents admitted to nursing facilities after registration closes or those who initially refused but later decide to be vaccinated, the system will remain open to allow vaccination within the designated period.

Who will be the first person vaccinated in Korea?

▲ This has not been decided yet. A separate announcement will be made once the decision is finalized.

The Korean Medical Association stated it would not participate in vaccination after a bill passed the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee to revoke licenses of doctors sentenced to imprisonment or higher. What is the government’s stance?

▲ We will continue to negotiate with the Korean Medical Association to ensure their active cooperation with vaccination and related schedules. Since early vaccinations will mostly be institution-based, we will work closely with the Korean Medical Association and other healthcare organizations to prevent any disruptions to the vaccination schedule.

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