"Why Blame Us Alone for Vaccine Neglect and Quarantine Failures?" Government Quarantine Guidelines Anger '2030'

1275 New COVID-19 Cases as of Midnight on the 8th... 45.41% Aged 20-30
Youth Complain, "We Were Vaccinated Later, So Why Blame Us for the Failure?"
Health Authorities Maintain "Vaccination Priority for the Elderly" Policy

On the 8th, citizens who visited the screening clinic in Mapo-gu, Seoul, are waiting in line for COVID-19 testing. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] "I can't even get vaccinated, so it's a bit unfair." , "Young people also follow quarantine rules well."

As concerns about the 4th wave of COVID-19 arise, the government is emphasizing compliance with quarantine guidelines especially among the 2030 age group, leading to dissatisfaction among young people. Young people who want to get vaccinated but are pushed to the back of the line are being criticized as if they did not properly follow quarantine rules and thus contributed to the spread of COVID-19.

The current spread of COVID-19 is serious. As of midnight on the 9th, the number of new confirmed domestic COVID-19 cases was 1,316, marking the fourth consecutive day with cases well over 1,000. The quarantine authorities view the current situation as the entry stage of the 4th wave.

The quarantine authorities urged the 2030 age group, at the center of the spread, to comply with quarantine guidelines. The day before, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said, "Our quarantine efforts, painstakingly built over the past year and a half, are now facing a critical moment. Especially the situation in the metropolitan area is serious," and emphasized, "People in their 20s and 30s in the metropolitan area, you hold the key to quarantine. Please endure and be patient a little longer."

Young people expressed that they cannot understand the government's stance. The 2030 age group, who are lower priority for vaccination, have a lower vaccination rate than other generations and are inevitably vulnerable to infection. In this situation, when they test positive, they are criticized as if they were infected because they did not properly follow quarantine rules, such as visiting bars.

For young people, unless they are essential workers, teachers, or workers in high-risk facilities, they are not included in the vaccination target. On the other hand, the first-dose vaccination rates for the elderly, who were prioritized as a vulnerable group for infectious diseases, as of midnight on the 7th, are ▲70-74 years old 83.0%, ▲65-69 years old 81.8%, and ▲60-64 years old 78.9%.

A (21-year-old male) A, who visited a bar near Konkuk University Station in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, with friends on the night of the 8th, protested, "It's unfair that only we can't get vaccinated." His friend B also said, "It's not like only people in their 20s and 30s are on the street here. There are many older men too," pointing to a group of passing office workers.

Since the 5th, 20s have been allowed to make online reservations for leftover Pfizer vaccines, but it is pointed out that vaccination is practically difficult due to fierce competition reminiscent of 'popular idol concert ticketing.'

20-year-old woman B, who tried to make an online reservation via KakaoTalk, lamented, "I failed every time it opened. I watched all day holding my phone, but I ultimately failed."

On the afternoon of the 8th, 'Kondae Mat Street' located in Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul Photo by Hyunju Park phj0325@

On online communities, some netizens even share tips for successfully getting leftover vaccines. A netizen who identified as being in their 20s commented, "Leftover vaccines don't come out well during lunchtime. There's a rumor that they come out well between 3 and 5 p.m., so wait in advance," and hinted, "If you log in after seeing the leftover vaccine alarm, it's already too late. You have to keep refreshing."

While young people's dissatisfaction continues, there are also responses that it is not strange for the government to ask the 2030 age group to participate in quarantine. This is because the infection rate centered on young people is serious. As of midnight the day before, among the total 1,275 confirmed cases, 2030 accounted for 45.4% (550 cases).

The situation is similar in the metropolitan area, where the spread is concentrated. Looking at the number of confirmed cases by age group in the metropolitan area over the past two weeks, people in their 20s had 4.1 cases, and those in their 30s had 2.7 cases, the highest. Next were 40s with 2.6 cases, and 50s and teens each with 2.2 cases.

Given this situation, some argue for 'priority vaccination' for the 2030 age group. C, a 30-year-old office worker living in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, expressed the opinion, "I'm really afraid that the spread will be uncontrollable. Since the elderly have mostly been vaccinated, wouldn't it be okay to change the vaccination order?"

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also urged vaccination for young people. At a special metropolitan quarantine inspection meeting on the 6th, Mayor Oh said, "It is urgent to expand vaccination to block the spread of infectious diseases. I request that more vaccines be allocated to Seoul so that young people, who have wide activity ranges and high activity levels, can be vaccinated first."

However, the quarantine authorities plan to maintain the existing principle of vaccinating the elderly first according to risk level. Bae Gwang-taek, head of the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Force, appeared on MBC radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 7th and emphasized, "We vaccinate those at higher risk first, in order of age. We start with elderly people living in group settings and then prepare vaccination in order of age. This is also the international standard."

Meanwhile, Seoul City plans to classify workers with frequent face-to-face contact, such as academy staff, delivery drivers, and sanitation workers, as priority vaccination targets. Bae explained, "Local governments say that people who do work involving frequent face-to-face contact, such as those working in transportation facilities, delivery, or sanitation, need vaccination regardless of age," and added, "They will be vaccinated first."

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