Prime Minister Kim Bu-gyeom: "Reviewing Vaccination Incentives... Accelerating Talks on Mutual Recognition of Vaccinations with Major Countries"

Meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters on COVID-19 on the 16th

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum presiding over the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting on COVID-19 held at the Government Seoul Office on the 16th. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum on the 16th instructed related ministries to "promptly review various incentives for those who have completed (COVID-19 vaccination)" and "speed up negotiations for mutual recognition of vaccinations with major countries, provided that it does not interfere with quarantine measures."

At the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in the afternoon, Prime Minister Kim said, "Last week, the U.S. health authorities announced a bold recommendation that people who have completed vaccination can remove masks not only outdoors but also indoors."

He added, "As vaccination progresses in Korea, expectations for measures that allow people to feel the recovery of daily life will increase," emphasizing, "We must definitely create such a Korea within this year."

Prime Minister Kim also instructed, "Although various certifications are being issued through applications for those who have completed vaccination, please also consider issuing confirmation certificates for the elderly who have completed vaccination if necessary."

He stressed the need for strict enforcement of quarantine rules on-site and decisive administrative actions against those who do not comply. He said, "It is problematic if on-site inspections and checks remain mere threats," and added, "If places where quarantine rules are violated are detected but only lenient measures are taken, the majority of citizens who comply with the rules while sacrificing their daily lives will feel frustrated."

He continued, "I repeatedly request each ministry to responsibly continue monitoring the quarantine status of their respective facilities and to make every effort to enhance on-site compliance," and added, "Local governments are also asked to take strong administrative actions according to principles when violations of quarantine rules are detected."

Regarding the pre-booking of COVID-19 vaccinations for the elderly, Prime Minister Kim explained, "Vaccination reservations for seniors aged 74 and below are underway, and as of yesterday, 42% have completed their reservations," and noted, "Although Korea's COVID-19 fatality rate is only 1.4%, 95% of deaths are concentrated in the age group of 60 and above."

He stated, "A survey of seniors aged 60 and above who have already been vaccinated confirmed an 89.5% infection prevention effect and 100% death prevention effect from two weeks after the first dose," and added, "The adverse reaction reporting rate for those aged 60 and above is 0.2%, lower than other age groups, and most cases were mild, such as fever and muscle pain."

He said, "I, who am 63 years old this year, also received the AstraZeneca vaccine the day before yesterday as the head of the CDSCH, but I am here without experiencing any significant adverse reactions," and urged, "The elderly should not be misled by unverified information and should trust the government and make vaccination reservations."

Regarding vaccination, Prime Minister Kim said, "It is a way to protect yourself, your neighbors, and the Republic of Korea," and added, "Children and neighbors should carefully assist and look after the elderly in their vaccination process."

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