[Vaccine Q&A] Antibodies Most Active 1-2 Weeks After 2nd Dose... Adverse Reactions Covered by State Compensation

Remember the '30·3·3 Rule' After Vaccination
Pre-screening Required... Pregnant Women Excluded from Vaccination

On the 26th, when COVID-19 vaccinations began in Korea, medical staff at Dobong-gu Public Health Center in Seoul administered AstraZeneca vaccines to workers at nursing hospitals and nursing facilities. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] Although COVID-19 vaccination has begun, public anxiety about its safety and efficacy remains high. Since the vaccine was developed less than a year ago, there are more precautions to consider compared to common flu vaccines. We have summarized the precautions that vaccine recipients should take during the vaccination process in a Q&A format.

Q. What should be considered before receiving the vaccine?

A. A medical examination by a doctor must be conducted before vaccination. At this time, any history of allergies to medications, cosmetics, foods, or other types of vaccines must be thoroughly recorded on the medical questionnaire and explained to the examining doctor.

Q. What should be careful about after vaccination?

A. After vaccination, follow the "30·3·3 rule." To observe and respond to adverse reactions, stay at the vaccination site for 15 to 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine to monitor for any side effects. Observe for at least 15 minutes, but if you have a previous allergy history, observe for 30 minutes. After returning home, carefully monitor yourself for at least 3 hours, and if you experience a high fever or any unusual physical symptoms, seek medical attention. Maintain cleanliness of the injection site and monitor it for at least 3 days after vaccination.

Q. What kinds of adverse reactions can occur?

A. The most critical adverse reaction to watch for is anaphylaxis. It is a severe allergic reaction where the immune system overreacts to a specific substance, accompanied by serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing and low blood pressure. In case of anaphylaxis, emergency treatment should be administered immediately, and the patient should be quickly transported to an emergency medical facility. Other common reactions include local symptoms such as pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site, and systemic symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle pain. These common side effects usually disappear within a few days. However, if allergic reactions or high fever occur, medical consultation is necessary.

Q. If an adverse reaction occurs, can compensation be received?

A. The government operates the "National Compensation Program for Vaccine Injury." It covers all out-of-pocket medical expenses due to adverse reactions, nursing care costs, lump-sum disability compensation, lump-sum death compensation, and funeral expenses. In cases of death or severe disability, compensation of 437.4 million KRW is provided.

Q. How long does it take to acquire immunity?

A. Generally, it takes about two weeks after vaccination for protective antibodies to form. For COVID-19 vaccines, antibody levels are reported to peak 7 to 14 days after the second dose.

Q. If vaccinated, is it no longer necessary to wear masks and practice social distancing?

A. Even after COVID-19 vaccination, mask-wearing and social distancing must continue until the COVID-19 outbreak is declared over to prevent infection.

Q. Can people with chronic or underlying conditions such as hypertension or diabetes, or pregnant women, receive the vaccine?

A. People with chronic or underlying conditions are included in the priority vaccination group and are recommended to get vaccinated if possible. If you are taking medications related to these conditions before or after vaccination, you can continue taking them as usual. However, pregnant women are currently excluded from vaccination due to insufficient clinical trial data, and vaccination will be considered once adequate clinical trials are completed.

Q. Does the vaccine provide long-term immunity, or is annual vaccination like the flu vaccine necessary?

A. Since the COVID-19 vaccine was developed recently, research on the duration of immunity and long-term immunogenicity is still insufficient, making it difficult to provide a definitive answer. Further studies are needed in this area.

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