'Vaccine Leave' Introduced

'Promotion of Legal Amendment for Paid Leave Provision'

COVID-19 Vaccination Site for Elderly Care Facilities in Eunpyeong-gu. [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Son Sun-hee, Lee Chun-hee] The government is considering the introduction of a ‘vaccine leave system’ to encourage participation in COVID-19 vaccination.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun chaired the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting on the 16th and stated, "It is necessary to institutionalize ‘vaccine leave’ so that the public can participate in vaccination with peace of mind," adding, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the Ministry of Personnel Management should promptly review institutionalization plans and report to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters."

Prime Minister Chung emphasized, "There have been numerous reports of people experiencing fever or pain as a normal immune response after vaccination," and "To accelerate vaccination as planned, it is most important that the public participates with confidence."

Legal amendments for the introduction of vaccine leave are also underway. Kim Won-i, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, introduced a partial amendment bill to the ‘Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act’ the day before to introduce vaccine leave for infectious diseases including COVID-19.

In explaining the reason for the bill, Representative Kim pointed out, "Since the start of COVID-19 vaccination mainly among medical personnel, public opinion has emerged that rest or leave is necessary due to immune responses such as fever and muscle pain for antibody formation," adding, "However, under current law, there is no legal basis for paid leave."

The amendment requires employers to provide paid leave in addition to annual paid leave under the Labor Standards Act when workers receive infectious disease vaccines, prohibits unfavorable treatment due to taking paid leave, and also includes provisions that prevent dismissal during the leave period, thereby institutionally guaranteeing vaccine leave.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced that as of midnight on the day, 11,922 people had been vaccinated, bringing the total number of first-dose vaccinations to 602,150.

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