3 Confirmed Cases After Vaccination... "Infection Presumed Before Immunity Formation or Vaccination"

On the morning of the 27th, COVID-19 medical staff who received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are waiting in the observation room at the Central Vaccination Center of the National Medical Center in Euljiro, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] It has been confirmed that three people tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine. In addition to two nurses, one more person was added.

At the regular briefing of the Central Disease Control Headquarters on the 8th, Park Young-jun, head of the epidemiological investigation support team, explained regarding those who tested positive after vaccination, "There is a possibility that they were exposed to the source of infection before immunity was formed after vaccination, and there is also a possibility that they were already infected before vaccination," adding, "(Based on) previously reported cases and evidence, this is not an unusual situation."

The identity of the remaining person has not been disclosed. Park explained, "It is a case infected earlier, and we believe there may be more."

Earlier, on the 28th of last month, two nurses at the National Medical Center (NMC) who received the Pfizer vaccine tested positive after vaccination. Both nurses worked in the new ward 7, where mild COVID-19 patients were admitted.

The first nurse who tested positive had a fever on the 5th of this month and underwent a COVID-19 test, testing positive the next day on the 6th. Subsequently, after conducting a full investigation of about 40 people working in the same ward as the confirmed nurse, one more nurse tested positive.

The health authorities are currently investigating the exact infection route of these nurses, including whether the infection occurred within the medical institution, and it is known that there is no connection with the vaccine center inside the National Medical Center. The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters explained that the two nurses who tested positive after the first dose will be excluded from the second dose.

Regarding the possibility of additional cases testing positive after vaccination, Park said, "We will compare the information of vaccinated individuals with confirmed cases to assess the scale," adding, "We will conduct a preliminary evaluation today and then make this a regular process."

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