Jung Se-kyun: "No Safety Issues with AZ Vaccine"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun stated on the 21st regarding the controversy over blood clot risks associated with the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine, "We have reconfirmed that there are no safety issues with the vaccine."

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting held at the Government Seoul Office that day, Prime Minister Chung said, "The Vaccination Expert Committee, convened the day before, thoroughly reviewed overseas evaluation results and domestic adverse reaction cases and reached this conclusion."

He added, "The European Medicines Agency (EMA) also officially announced, after expert verification, that 'there is no scientific causality between the vaccine and blood clots.' The World Health Organization (WHO) has consistently recommended continuing vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine without interruption."

He continued, "Starting the day after tomorrow, vaccinations will begin for residents and workers aged 65 and older in nursing hospitals and facilities," and emphasized, "Please actively participate in vaccination, trusting the scientific verification results both domestically and internationally."

The government plans to announce the detailed review results of the Vaccination Expert Committee on the 22nd.

Meanwhile, regarding the controversy over Seoul City's mandatory diagnostic testing for foreigners, Prime Minister Chung said, "Although Seoul City has withdrawn the administrative order, as the head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, I regret the human rights infringement and discrimination controversy that arose." He added, "We will take this incident as a lesson and implement quarantine measures with sensitivity from the perspective of the recipients."

Prime Minister Chung also said, "With the cherry blossoms blooming this week, movement is expected to increase," and urged, "We fully understand the frustration, but the war against COVID-19 is still ongoing. If we become complacent, a time of greater suffering will come," asking the public to strictly follow quarantine rules.

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