Vaccinations for Health, Special Education Teachers, and Support Staff Begin from the 8th

April 8-28 First Dose, June 17-July 7 Second Dose
If Adverse Reactions Occur the Day After Vaccination, Sick Leave Granted Without Medical Certificate

On the 1st, COVID-19 vaccinations for elderly people aged 75 and older began at the vaccination center set up in the Sports and Culture Center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where seniors are receiving their shots. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Starting April 8, health and special education teachers, assistant staff, and special school faculty will begin receiving COVID-19 vaccinations.

On the 1st, the Ministry of Education held the 10th meeting of metropolitan and provincial superintendents of education, chaired by Vice Minister Jeong Jong-cheol. They shared the status of preparations for COVID-19 vaccinations and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation to restore daily life in schools.

From April 8, health and special education teachers, assistant staff, and special school faculty members at high schools and below who consent to vaccination will receive the COVID-19 vaccine at public health centers under the jurisdiction of their workplace. The first dose will be administered from April 8 to 28, and the second dose from June 17 to July 7. The schedule may be moved forward or delayed depending on the readiness of the health centers.

To support safe vaccination, vaccinated teachers can apply for paid leave for the time required for vaccination. If adverse reactions such as fever or pain occur the day after vaccination, sick leave can be taken without a medical certificate.

When vaccinating, schools were requested to cooperate by staggering vaccination dates for each teacher or providing substitute personnel to prevent gaps in academic operations.

On the 2nd, when kindergarteners, 1st-2nd graders, and high school seniors nationwide began attending school, students were arriving at Geumyang Elementary School in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Along with this, the Ministry of Education and education offices reviewed key tasks and reorganized cooperation systems amid the concurrent operation of in-person and remote classes.

The existing meeting of metropolitan and provincial superintendents of education chaired by the vice minister was reorganized into the "School Daily Life Recovery Support Group," which will operate biweekly to check six areas: ▲quarantine and vaccination ▲academic affairs and classes ▲childcare ▲infrastructure ▲relationship recovery and psychological quarantine ▲and daily safety.

Follow-up measures regarding the violence incident that occurred at a Seodang in Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam, were also discussed. The education office and local governments will investigate the actual situation of violence in dormitory-type educational facilities (such as Seodang) that may be operated through loopholes, such as registering only some facilities as private academies, and will take strict action if related laws are violated.

Vice Minister Jeong Jong-cheol said, "We will closely communicate with education offices to ensure that quarantine guidelines are strictly followed at schools and that substantial academic operations are carried out, and we will actively cooperate in areas where support is needed. Although vaccination of faculty members has begun step by step, we cannot loosen the reins on quarantine, so we ask parents to thoroughly observe quarantine rules at home for the safety of our children."

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