Authorities: "From late July, local governments to conduct self-vaccinations... Demand survey underway"

"The priority vaccination method is not limited to specific areas such as the Seoul metropolitan area"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The quarantine authorities have launched a demand survey by region regarding local government-led COVID-19 vaccine self-administration, which is part of the third-quarter vaccination plan.

On the 29th, Kim Ki-nam, Head of the Vaccination Planning Division of the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, said at the regular COVID-19 briefing, "We explained the autonomous vaccination by local governments through the third-quarter vaccination plan announced on the 17th. For now, a certain amount of vaccine is allocated to each city and province, and within that scope, local governments independently establish plans to select priority vaccination targets and administer vaccines at public health centers or vaccination centers."

He added, "We are currently discussing specific measures with local governments. The timing is flexible depending on vaccine supply conditions, but the plan is to implement it after the end of July."

On the same day, Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, requested at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting that vaccines be prioritized for the Seoul metropolitan area, where confirmed cases are rapidly increasing. However, the authorities' position is that local government autonomous vaccination involves allocating a certain amount of vaccines proportional to the population and allowing local governments to set priorities, so it is not a priority vaccination for specific regions.

Kim emphasized, "It is not a method of prioritizing vaccination in specific areas such as the Seoul metropolitan area, but rather that each local government selects high-risk groups or vulnerable facilities that require priority vaccination and conducts separate vaccinations," adding, "we are currently conducting demand surveys for priority vaccination target groups by local government."

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