"Want to Prepare Safely and Take the CSAT"... 460,000 3rd-Year High School Students Begin Pfizer Vaccination

On the 19th, when COVID-19 vaccinations began for high school seniors and school staff, students who received the vaccine at the Yongsan District Vaccination Center in Seoul posed for the press. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] "I am preparing for the CSAT, one of the biggest exams in Korea. Although we cannot be completely freed from COVID-19, I decided to get vaccinated to ease my worries even a little." (Lee Gwan-woo (18))

On the 19th, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations began for approximately 650,000 third-year high school students and staff members across 3,184 high schools nationwide. Around 9 a.m., the COVID-19 vaccination center set up at the Namsejong Comprehensive Youth Center in Sejong was filled with youthful faces rarely seen at the center before. A total of 234 people, including third-year students and staff from Daeseong High School in Eojin-dong, Sejong, received vaccinations on the first day.

At about 8:55 a.m., students gathered in the center lobby moved to the medical questionnaire area to fill out forms and have their temperatures checked. As students crowded in at once, center staff asked them to maintain social distancing.

Shortly after 9 a.m., the medical screening began. During the screening, it was explained that mild side effects such as fever, swelling, and pain may occur after vaccination, so acetaminophen-based fever reducers should be taken if needed. They were also advised to call 119 or visit a hospital if symptoms like breathing difficulties or chest pain occur. Afterwards, they entered individual booths divided by partitions to receive the vaccine.

On the 19th, COVID-19 vaccinations for high school seniors and school staff began, and students are receiving vaccines at the vaccination center in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Lee Ha-eun (18), the student council president of Daeseong High School who received the vaccine that day, said, "I decided to get vaccinated because I want to prepare for and take the CSAT safely." She mentioned that her mother is very worried due to side effects like fever and fatigue, but "I consciously got a good night's sleep last night and prepared acetaminophen in advance," showing she was fully prepared.

Lee Gwan-woo, the third-year class president at Daeseong High School, also said, "We are preparing for one of the biggest exams in Korea, the CSAT. Although we cannot be completely free from COVID-19, I decided to get vaccinated to reduce my worries even a little." He added that his father had already received the Janssen vaccine and "Although my father had a bit of a hard time, the family felt less worried because Pfizer is said to have a higher prevention rate than Janssen."

He said, "I will rest at home for a day or two to monitor my condition." He also mentioned, "I revised my study plan a bit because I think I won’t be able to study for 2-3 days after vaccination," and added his future plan, "I intend to strictly follow quarantine guidelines after vaccination because if I don’t, the vaccine’s effectiveness might be compromised."

On the same day, vaccinations were also administered to staff members as well as third-year students. Oh Hyun-jun (37), an English teacher in charge of a third-year class, said, "We are about to start the fourth semester since COVID-19 began. There have been difficulties in managing student life and academic guidance, from mask-wearing to school meals, but getting vaccinated will ease some of those burdens."

On the morning of the 19th, when COVID-19 vaccinations began for high school seniors and school staff, students who completed their vaccinations were sitting in the observation area at the vaccination center in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The COVID-19 Vaccination Promotion Team plans to continue administering Pfizer vaccines at about 280 vaccination centers nationwide until the 30th, targeting approximately 460,000 students and 190,000 staff members. Jeong Eun-kyung, head of the promotion team and director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said, "We hope schools and teachers will familiarize themselves with how to prevent and respond to anxiety-related reactions related to vaccination so that students can receive vaccinations safely." She also requested, "Vaccination centers should thoroughly check emergency response measures for anaphylaxis and prepare to handle fainting or injuries caused by anxiety among vaccine recipients."

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