Last in Line, Unable to Get Leftover Vaccines... 20s Appeal Over 'Vaccine Exclusion'

"We Also Want to Regain Normal Life" Complaints from 20s in Vaccine Priority
Nearly Half of 20s Respond "Willing to Get Vaccinated"
Experts Say "Vaccination Timing Was Rationally Decided Considering Various Conditions"

COVID-19 Vaccination. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] As COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered sequentially by age group, there are quite a few voices of dissatisfaction among people in their 20s, who are scheduled to receive the vaccine last. Those who have completed vaccination can enjoy benefits such as eased quarantine rules and discounts on public facility entrance fees, but for 20-somethings whose vaccination timing is still unclear, these remain distant prospects.

Additionally, 'leftover vaccines' resulting from no-shows after reservations are not an option for people in their 20s. This is because the 20s age group has a higher risk of rare blood clot side effects compared to other age groups, limiting their access to leftover vaccines.

For people in their 20s, aside from essential social workers such as military personnel, police officers, and caregivers like kindergarten, daycare, and lower elementary school teachers, there is practically no way to get vaccinated, leading some to express feelings of 'vaccine neglect.' Experts explain that the vaccination schedule was determined as the most rational decision considering the occurrence of severe cases and death rates.

Recently, it has not been difficult to find posts from young people in their 20s on online communities and social networking services (SNS) expressing their desire to get vaccinated quickly.

On a community mainly for people in their 20s, one netizen lamented, "When on earth will we be able to get vaccinated? I’m anxious and want to get vaccinated quickly, but I don’t know how long I have to keep waiting. I want to meet friends in groups of five or more and return to normal school life soon. I hope those who want leftover vaccines can get them."

At the beginning of the vaccination campaign, there was a strong tendency to avoid vaccination due to side effects from the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine, but recently, voices willing to get vaccinated have increased even among people in their 20s. This is analyzed to be due to the introduction of new types of vaccines in Korea and the government’s continuous encouragement measures, such as offering various benefits to those who have completed vaccination, which have eased vaccine hesitancy.

On the morning of the 3rd, medical staff are administering COVID-19 vaccinations at a vaccination center set up at the Jungnang Cultural and Sports Center in Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

However, there is currently no way for ordinary people in their 20s to get vaccinated. While competition for leftover vaccine reservations is fierce in other age groups, people in their 20s cannot even expect this due to concerns about rare blood clot side effects.

The vaccination schedule for people in their 20s is also still unclear. The government is currently vaccinating the elderly aged 65 and over and started vaccinating those aged 60 to 64 on the 7th of this month. Vaccinations for people in their 50s, 40s, and 30s are expected to begin sequentially around July, after the 60s complete their first dose.

The vaccination plan for teenagers, excluding examinees, is also unclear because no vaccines have been approved for those under 16 in Korea. Vaccination for people in their 20s is expected to be possible only after the 50s, 40s, and 30s have completed their vaccinations, and specific plans have not yet been finalized.

Meanwhile, the government announced on the 26th of last month that it will implement so-called 'vaccine incentives' starting in July, offering benefits to those who have completed vaccination. These incentives include discounts on entrance fees to various public facilities and exemptions from restrictions on private gatherings for vaccinated individuals.

As a result, among people in their 20s who must wait their turn, the desire to get vaccinated quickly is growing. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter on the 28th of last month targeting 500 people aged 18 and over nationwide, 48% of people in their 20s responded that they intend to get vaccinated.

Kim, a college student in his 20s, said, "It’s true that I’m worried about side effects, but I also really want to return to normal life quickly. If I can get vaccinated, I want to go and get it done as soon as possible."

Experts explain that the vaccination schedule was determined as the most rational order after considering various factors such as the occurrence of severe cases and death rates.

Professor Eom Jung-sik, an infectious disease specialist at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, said, "The vaccination order is decided by calculating and comprehensively considering factors such as activity levels by age, willingness to get vaccinated, and the rates of severe cases and deaths after vaccination. It would be ideal if all age groups could be vaccinated simultaneously, but there are practical limitations. After multiple simulations to determine the most rational order, the current sequence was established."

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