86.7% (1,137) of 1,311 Eligible Individuals in Gangnam-gu Agree to Vaccination

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The first domestic COVID-19 vaccinations began on the 26th.

Gangnam-gu started vaccinating residents under 65 and staff at eight nursing hospitals and five nursing facilities in the district from that day until March 8.

With 86.7% (1,137 out of 1,311) of the target group consenting to vaccination, vaccinations began this morning for 106 residents and staff at the National Health Insurance Seoul Nursing Home located in Segok-dong.

Considering those with limited mobility, health center medical staff are visiting nursing homes to administer vaccinations, and a specialized team is on standby nearby in case of adverse reactions after vaccination.

Additionally, Gangnam-gu has implemented an automated system that monitors vaccine storage 24 hours a day, triggering alarms if the storage is opened or the temperature is inappropriate to ensure strict management of vaccines stored at the health center.

Furthermore, on-site inspections of vaccines stored at nursing hospitals and entrusted medical institutions conducting vaccinations will be conducted two to three times a month.

The interval for the AstraZeneca vaccine is between 8 and 12 weeks.

Recipients will receive their first dose now and the second dose between late April and late May.

Vaccinations for 737 elderly residents aged 65 and older in nursing hospitals and facilities within the district will be decided after additional clinical information is confirmed by the government at the end of March.

It is expected that most residents will receive vaccinations starting from the third quarter, with Gangnam-gu aiming to vaccinate 380,000 people, which is 70% of the total population of 538,536 (as of January 2021), by the end of November.

To facilitate smooth free vaccinations, two vaccination centers are planned to be established within the district (Ilwon Eco Center at Ilwon-dong 4-12 and Gangnam Tourism Information Center at Apgujeong-ro 161).

As of midnight on the 26th, 406 new COVID-19 cases were reported domestically. While the start of vaccinations raises hopes for a shift in the infectious disease situation, daily new cases continue to fluctuate between 300 and 400. Health authorities emphasize that with the global increase in variant viruses, South Korea cannot be complacent.

At times like these, proactive specimen testing based on the infectious disease response principle of "early detection, early containment" is crucial. Since the early stages of the outbreak, Gangnam-gu has conducted specimen testing based on this principle, with the number of tests exceeding 217,000 as of today, including about 138,000 tests for Gangnam-gu residents.

In fact, about one-third of the 380,000 Gangnam-gu residents eligible for vaccination have undergone COVID-19 testing.

Residents are urged to visit temporary screening clinics (near Exit 6 of Samsung Station, Bangjuk Small Park in Segok-dong) or the Gangnam-gu Health Center for testing if they experience any symptoms.

Now, let's review the current COVID-19 status and key policies in Gangnam-gu.

As of today, cases have reached number 1,290. Cases 1,287 and 1,289 tested positive as family members of previously confirmed Gangnam-gu residents, while cases 1,288 and 1,290 were confirmed after exhibiting symptoms such as fever, with their infection routes under epidemiological investigation.

Currently, Gangnam-gu is managing 1,084 self-quarantined individuals, including 812 overseas arrivals and 272 domestic contacts.

The cumulative number of specimen tests at Gangnam-gu Health Center screening clinics and temporary screening clinics is 220,797. Of the 1,973 tests conducted the previous day, 34 were overseas arrivals and 1,939 were domestic residents.

With the school reopening next week, many residents may be concerned. Gangnam-gu is working with the education office to ensure strict adherence to quarantine guidelines in all educational institutions to protect students' health and safety.

From Monday to Wednesday last week, inspections were conducted at eight local schools, including Shingu Elementary, Hwimun Middle, and Jungdae High School, to check facilities and compliance with quarantine rules. Additionally, preparations are in place to quickly transport students or staff showing suspected COVID-19 symptoms on campus to hospitals or health centers using special ambulances equipped with negative pressure facilities.

Meanwhile, with social distancing eased to level 2, social welfare facilities in Seoul have resumed operations, and 161 senior centers in the district reopened yesterday.

Operating hours are from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., with individual usage limited to one hour. Gangnam-gu has completed prior training and inspections for facility managers and will conduct frequent on-site checks.

Moreover, Gangnam-gu will provide employment retention support payments of up to 1.5 million KRW over three months to small business owners and workers who have taken unpaid leave for more than five days a month. Applications will be accepted from March 1 to 31, with priority given to businesses affected by gathering bans. For more details, please refer to the district office website.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun appealed regarding the free vaccination, stating, "If vaccines are distrusted and vaccinations are avoided, herd immunity will be an illusion," urging the public to trust the government and actively participate. Vaccination is the start of regaining lost daily life. Residents are encouraged to continue trusting the government and to stay strong to win the war against COVID-19 as they have done so far.

Above all, please keep in mind that even a small lapse can lead to a large outbreak, and actively comply with the government's extended social distancing measures for two weeks, including the ban on private gatherings of five or more people.

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