President Moon: "Vaccination is the way to protect yourself and the safety of society as a whole"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] 85% of the priority COVID-19 vaccination recipients in South Korea have completed their first dose.

In Gangnam-gu, out of 12,949 first-dose recipients, 12,004 (92.6%) have been vaccinated. Fortunately, no one in the area has reported vaccine side effects so far.

After vaccination, mild symptoms such as headache or nausea may occur but usually disappear within a day or two. Following vaccination, 65 people experienced mild symptoms like fever or muscle pain, all of whom recovered within one or two days.

Since it takes two to three weeks for antibodies to form after vaccination, caution is needed for the time being.

From the 23rd to April 5th, vaccinations will be administered to 784 residents and workers aged 65 and older in nursing hospitals and facilities. To accommodate elderly individuals with underlying conditions or mobility difficulties, the vaccination schedule will be staggered, with two or more home visits spaced 3 to 4 days apart.

Additionally, vaccinations for 28,195 Gangnam-gu residents aged 75 and older will begin on April 15th. To facilitate smooth vaccinations, one of Gangnam-gu’s vaccination centers, the Irwon Eco Center (Irwon-dong 4-12), will open on the same day. It is equipped with 8 preliminary examination rooms and 16 vaccination rooms, staffed by a specialized team of 44 people including doctors, nurses, and public officials.

They are conducting simulation training to ensure smooth vaccination, from checking recipients to filling out preliminary examination forms, medical interviews, vaccination, and monitoring for adverse reactions, simulating real vaccination scenarios. Starting from the 22nd, surveys are being conducted in 22 neighborhoods to identify those wishing to be vaccinated. Those who wish to apply or have inquiries are encouraged to contact their nearest community service center.

Countries worldwide have determined that there is no link between the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and blood clot formation and are accelerating vaccinations again. Following the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announcement that the vaccine is “safe and effective,” countries including Germany, France, Italy, Indonesia, and Taiwan have resumed vaccinations after suspensions. The UK, where the vaccine was developed, also announced no evidence of blood clots caused by the vaccine, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson emphasized its safety by receiving the vaccine the following day.

Meanwhile, President Moon Jae-in and his wife received the AstraZeneca vaccine on the 23rd. President Moon emphasized, “Vaccination is the way to protect yourself and society as a whole.” Vaccination marks the beginning of regaining lost daily life. Public cooperation is crucial to achieving herd immunity.

Gangnam-gu residents are also urged to trust the government and participate in vaccinations in the designated order.

Now, I will explain the current COVID-19 status and key policies in Gangnam-gu.

Here is the status of confirmed cases in Gangnam-gu. As of today, cases have reached number 1461. Cases 1457 and 1458 are family members of previously confirmed Gangnam-gu residents, and case 1460 tested positive after contact with a previously confirmed Gangnam-gu resident. Cases 1459 and 1461 were confirmed after showing symptoms such as fever, but their infection routes are unknown and epidemiological investigations are ongoing.

Currently, Gangnam-gu is managing 1,183 self-quarantined individuals, including 625 overseas arrivals and 558 domestic contacts.

The cumulative number of tests conducted at Gangnam-gu Public Health Center’s screening clinics and temporary screening sites is 269,113. Yesterday, out of 2,974 tested individuals, 48 were overseas arrivals and 2,926 were domestic residents.

As of midnight today, South Korea reported 346 new COVID-19 cases, dropping to the 300s for the first time in a week. The government has decided to conduct comprehensive testing of all bathhouse workers nationwide starting yesterday and will also limit the number of customers and operating hours.

Gangnam-gu plans to strengthen on-site inspections of multi-use facilities in the area, focusing on 1,247 restaurants and cafes, with consumer food hygiene inspectors monitoring compliance with quarantine rules.

Additionally, 200 small-scale eateries such as gimbap specialty stores and snack bars, where social distancing is realistically difficult, will be provided with five acrylic partitions per establishment.

Meanwhile, Gangnam-gu is aligning with Seoul City’s policy recommending testing for foreign workers in high-risk workplaces characterized by close contact, crowding, and poor ventilation (“3Cs”). Accordingly, 1,325 foreign instructors working in local elementary, middle, and high schools and language institutes are being guided to undergo testing by the 31st.

This measure aims to proactively block community infections by ensuring the health and safety of workers and children alike, and active cooperation from all related parties is requested.

There is no shortcut to quarantine. Now is the time to live apart, keeping distance with a spirit of cooperation, consideration, and respect for oneself and the community.

Residents are reminded that they are the main agents of quarantine and are urged to actively comply with government distancing policies such as the ban on private gatherings of five or more people and business hour restrictions after 10 p.m.

Moreover, at times like this, early detection and early containment through proactive testing are crucial according to infectious disease response principles. Residents are encouraged to visit temporary screening clinics or Gangnam-gu Public Health Center for testing if they experience any symptoms.

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