Jeon Hye-sook: "Considering Expanding Vaccine Incentives... Priority Should Include Delivery Workers and Call Center Employees"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Jeon Hye-sook, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 3rd that face-to-face service workers such as delivery drivers, sanitation workers, and call center employees should be included in the priority group for COVID-19 vaccination. She also said that vaccine incentives would be expanded to maximize the vaccination rate.

Jeon, who is the chairperson of the Democratic Party's Special Committee on Vaccines and Therapeutics, argued at a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office that "While age-based vaccination is good, a separate priority system based on occupation should also be established."

She emphasized, "Delivery drivers, sanitation workers, care service and transportation workers in essential face-to-face service sectors, as well as call center employees who are vulnerable to infection, should be included in the target group. Health care personnel such as dental technicians and nursing students who are not affiliated with medical institutions and thus have not been prioritized for vaccination should also be included in the priority vaccination group."

She continued, "The National Assembly and the government must devise ways to maximize the vaccination rate so that herd immunity can be formed more quickly. There is a lot of misinformation about vaccines circulating in our country. Some say that higher price means higher efficacy, but vaccine price and efficacy are not proportional," correcting the misconception.

She added, "We will expand vaccine incentives so that many citizens can benefit."

Regarding concerns about vaccine side effects, she said, "All medicines have side effects. There are side effects from antipyretics and sedatives taken after vaccination, antibiotics taken when sick, and even nutritional supplements. Wouldn't it be wiser to endure mild side effects from the vaccine than to suffer and die from the damage caused by COVID-19 infection?"

After the press conference, Jeon said about providing vaccine incentives, "What we all want is in the fields of culture, arts, and sports. We will lift time restrictions and social distancing rules and allow cheering without masks."

Currently, some essential workers such as healthcare workers and caregivers for the elderly and disabled are included in the priority vaccination group. Recently, the government has been considering expanding the priority vaccination group to include essential workers such as delivery drivers and sanitation workers.

The Democratic Party is conducting various campaigns to increase the COVID-19 vaccination rate. More than 40 Democratic Party lawmakers aged 60 and over have started a pre-registration campaign for the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine. Young lawmakers within the party, including Kim Nam-guk and Jeon Yong-gi, are actively encouraging vaccination by posting 'certification shots' of Janssen vaccine reservations for reservists on social networking services (SNS).

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