The Unsung Heroes at Senior Vaccination Sites, Their Name: 'Tongjang'

Amid Various Efforts to Increase COVID-19 Vaccination Rates, 'Tongjang' Plays a Key Role... Acting as Local Connectors for Elderly, Assisting in Appointment Booking, Transport to Vaccination Centers, and Communicating Precautions at Every Step of COVID-19 Vaccination Process

Kim Hee-ja, the community leader of Seokgwan-dong, is guiding elderly people moving to the vaccination center for their COVID-19 vaccinations on the 28th of last month. On that day, 321 elderly people in Seokgwan-dong alone received the COVID-19 vaccine.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The government is making every effort to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates by offering various incentives.

In Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro), neighborhood leaders known as ‘tongjang’ are playing a key role in improving vaccination rates. By taking it upon themselves to assist seniors from scheduling vaccinations to transportation, they have helped achieve almost no no-shows.

One of the areas where the tongjang’s efforts stand out the most is Seokgwan-dong. Seokgwan-dong is the third most populous neighborhood in Seongbuk-gu (35,298 people) and has the highest number of residents aged 65 and older (6,928 people).

It is also the area requiring the most administrative effort for vaccination. The 43 tongjang who resolved this challenge for the Seokgwan-dong Community Service Center are the key contributors.

The Seokgwan-dong Tongjang Council (Chair Kim Hee-ja), composed of 43 tongjang, is volunteering to support shuttle bus services for COVID-19 vaccinations for seniors aged 75 and above.

Since May 14, Seongbuk-gu has been operating free shuttle buses to assist the safe and convenient transportation of eligible seniors to vaccination sites. The buses run between the 20 neighborhoods and the Seongbuk-gu Office, where the vaccination center is located, ensuring safe and convenient vaccinations for seniors.

The Seokgwan-dong tongjang, in collaboration with local community groups such as the Saemaul Women’s Association and Saemaul Library Association, assist seniors at every stage of the vaccination process?from making reservations, boarding and disembarking the shuttle bus at the vaccination center, verifying pre-examination forms, delivering precautions, managing waiting seats on the bus, to conducting temperature checks.

Chair Kim Hee-ja stated, “We understand better than anyone how lonely and difficult it has been for seniors during the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, by sincerely participating in social distancing and helping prevent the spread within the community, it is our duty as tongjang to ensure that seniors can receive their vaccinations as comfortably as possible.”

In Seokgwan-dong, a total of 10 buses depart for the vaccination center every Friday, and on the 28th of last month, 321 seniors received their vaccinations. Two tongjang form a team to board each bus and work alongside community center staff to ensure the safe and convenient vaccination of seniors.

Han*hee (42, Seokgwan-dong), who accompanied her 77-year-old mother on the vaccination center shuttle bus, said, “I took a day off worried about my mother, but seeing how carefully and kindly the tongjang assisted and explained everything to the seniors put me at ease and even moved me.”

Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro said, “Increasing vaccination rates is crucial for early overcoming of COVID-19. Thanks to the tongjang not only in Seokgwan-dong but in all 20 neighborhoods who personally visit seniors’ homes to obtain consent forms and assist with transportation, vaccinations are proceeding smoothly. In a situation where Seongbuk-gu staff are extremely short-handed due to various support payments, identifying blind spots in welfare, and COVID-19 response, these vital helping hands are a breath of fresh air and a major stepping stone to overcoming COVID-19. The administration will also make every effort to overcome COVID-19.”

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