Ahn Cheol-soo: "Need to Consider Measures for Elderly with Two Vaccine Doses to Use Heatwave Shelters"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, proposed on the 26th that a new quarantine system be established for those aged 60 and over, who have a high vaccination rate, in relation to the 4th wave of COVID-19. He also suggested considering allowing elderly people who have completed two doses of vaccination to use heatwave shelters to avoid heatwaves.

On the same day, Ahn held a meeting with the Korean Medical Association to discuss “Measures to Respond to the 4th Pandemic.” At the meeting, Ahn said, “I think the 4th large-scale spread is different in pattern from the 3rd large-scale spread last winter,” adding, “Especially since many high-risk elderly people aged 60 and over have been vaccinated, various patterns are different. Therefore, the response methods should also change.”

He said, “This summer’s heatwave is very severe, and elderly people in very difficult circumstances could have stayed in heatwave shelters as before, but now all are closed, and they cannot stay at home either, so the probability of suffering from heatwave damage is high,” adding, “For those who have already received two or more vaccine doses, I think it is a situation where heatwave shelters can be opened to protect them.”

Regarding illegal immigrants estimated to be about 400,000, he said, “We guided them to register for vaccination, but only about 700 have registered,” and added, “We need to discuss how to handle this and strongly urge the government on this issue.”

After the meeting, Ahn said, “It is important for the government to do its best to supply sufficient vaccines as quickly as possible and to transparently disclose the process to the public.”

Lee Pil-sang, president of the Korean Medical Association, said after the meeting, “We emphasized the importance of mutual communication and information sharing between the government and the expert organization, the Korean Medical Association.”

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