Jeju Island to Begin Pfizer Vaccinations for Those Aged 75 and Over Starting Next Month 1

Vaccination with 5,850 Doses of Pfizer Vaccine Begins at Jeju-si Vaccination Center

31,706 People Consented to Vaccination... Starting from Dong Areas like Ildo-dong and Ido-dong

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters (Jeju) Reporter Park Chang-won] Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 31st that it will begin COVID-19 vaccination from the 1st of next month for seniors aged 75 and older, as well as residents and workers in elderly care facilities.

Among the target group, those aged 75 and older will receive the Pfizer vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine requires ultra-cold storage and has a short shelf life after thawing, making management difficult; therefore, vaccinations will be conducted at the Halla Gymnasium, the vaccination center in Jeju City.

Jeju Province has completed preparations for the vaccination starting on the 1st of next month, including ▲installation of freezers for storing the Pfizer vaccine ▲securing medical staff such as doctors, nurses, and administrative personnel ▲and preparing various auxiliary facilities within the center.

Earlier, on the 22nd, a simulation drill was conducted assuming an actual vaccination situation, thoroughly checking each step from vaccine preparation, temperature measurement, questionnaire completion, identity verification, preliminary examination, vaccination, vaccination data registration, adverse reaction monitoring, to hospital transfer procedures in case of adverse reactions.

The population aged 75 and older born before December 31, 1946, in the Jeju area was counted at 47,251.

Among them, 31,706 people (21,285 in Jeju City, 10,421 in Seogwipo City), accounting for 67.1%, agreed to be vaccinated.

In elderly care facilities, 1,311 out of 2,018 people, or 64.9%, will receive vaccinations.

Jeju Province plans to start vaccinations first in the dong areas, where the proportion of COVID-19 confirmed cases and population are higher compared to eup and myeon areas.

Vaccinations will begin with 2,125 people receiving their first and second doses in Ildo-dong and Ido-dong areas, and will gradually expand to seniors in eup and myeon areas depending on the amount of vaccine delivered in the future.

From the 6th of next month, Pfizer vaccinations will also be administered to 800 consenting residents and workers in elderly care facilities.

For island areas, vaccinations are possible by making reservations at vaccination centers and visiting in person; however, Jeju Province is considering administering vaccines such as AstraZeneca (AZ) at local health clinics in island areas to prepare for situations where visiting the center is not possible.

Additionally, separate vaccination plans are being considered for elderly individuals who have difficulty moving or visiting vaccination centers.

The vaccination center operates from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays, and it is expected that up to about 600 seniors per day, who have been pre-notified as eligible, can be vaccinated.

Starting with vaccinations for residents and workers in elderly care facilities (residential, day/night care, short-term protection) in the first week of next month, the program will gradually expand to include workers in facilities for the disabled, correctional facilities, elderly nursing communal living homes, and facilities for the homeless.

Im Tae-bong, head of the Jeju COVID-19 Response Task Force, said, “We will make every effort to ensure stable vaccination of the elderly, who are vulnerable to COVID-19 infection, to achieve herd immunity and move one step closer to restoring daily life.”

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