Jeonnam Island Areas Begin Janssen Vaccine Inoculation Today... Utilizing Navy Ship 'Hansandoham'

Over 80 Residents of Gasa Island, Seongnam Island, and Soseongnam Island in Jeonnam Receive First-Day Vaccinations

Vaccine Inoculation Drill in Island Areas (Photo by National Defense Daily)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] Starting from the 14th, COVID-19 vaccination will begin for residents of island areas where vaccination has been difficult. The vaccination will be carried out using the naval vessel Hansando and will utilize the Janssen vaccine recently provided by the United States.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team announced that from today until the end of June, vaccinations will be administered to residents aged 30 and above in 25 remote and uninhabited island areas using the naval vessel. This naval vessel vaccination is the first attempt at a "maritime mobile vaccination." It was made possible through the active request and cooperation of Jeollanam-do, as well as the provision of medical personnel and the vessel by the Navy. To ensure smooth vaccination, a joint drill involving the Navy and Coast Guard was conducted on the 11th under the command of the Transport Support Headquarters.

On the first day of vaccination, the Hansando will visit about 80 residents of Gasa-do, Seongnam-do, and Soseongnam-do in Jeollanam-do. The vessel will first anchor in nearby waters, and residents will be safely transported to the naval vessel using a high-speed rigid inflatable boat (RIB), landing craft, and Jeollanam-do’s administrative ship. Vaccinations will then be administered in the vessel’s hangar.

Vaccine Inoculation Drill in Island Areas (Photo by National Defense Daily)

With the help of guides and safety personnel positioned along the route, residents will undergo identity verification, complete a medical questionnaire, and receive a preliminary examination by a military doctor before getting vaccinated. They will then stay in a waiting area for 30 minutes to monitor for any adverse reactions. Residents without any adverse reactions will return to their islands using the high-speed RIB, landing craft, or other vessels they arrived in.

The Hansando will continue vaccinations targeting about 600 residents aged 30 and above in 25 islands of Jeollanam-do until the end of June, starting from this day.

Resident A, who is scheduled to be vaccinated on the Hansando, said, "I am grateful to the Navy and Jeollanam-do officials for considering the vaccination conditions of island residents by sending a naval vessel. I am very hopeful that this single vaccination will allow us to be somewhat free from COVID-19."

Lieutenant Colonel Jo Wan-hee, captain of the Hansando, who is in charge of supporting vaccination in island areas, stated, "We will do our best to ensure that island residents can safely receive the vaccine in cooperation with Jeollanam-do and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency."

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