"My Rapid Clicking Was All in Vain" Fierce Leftover Vaccine Competition... Even 'Macro' Emerges

Surge in Residual Vaccine Applications Using Automated Programs
"Isn't This Practically a Loophole?" Some Citizens Express Complaints
Health Authorities "Continuing to Discuss Blocking Methods"

On the 26th, the COVID-19 nucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine developed by Moderna, USA, was prepared at Gangdong Seongsim Hospital in Gangdong-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the fourth wave of COVID-19 and vaccine shortages coincide, competition for leftover vaccine reservations is intensifying. Eventually, programs called 'leftover vaccine macros' that monitor leftover vaccine alerts and automatically proceed with the application process have become rampant, increasing public dissatisfaction. There are criticisms that this is practically an 'unfair method.' The quarantine authorities are discussing ways to block those who use macros to apply for leftover vaccines.

On the 28th, searching YouTube, social networking services (SNS), and online communities easily reveals videos and posts containing instructions and download methods for 'leftover vaccine macro programs.' Netizens share their success stories, saying, "I was able to reserve a leftover vaccine instantly using the program," and also share URLs where the macro programs can be installed.

As competition for leftover vaccine reservations intensifies, programs that automatically apply for vaccines have emerged. A macro is a computer program that executes repetitive tasks. The program monitors leftover vaccine-related information within the application until it appears, then completes the application process within seconds.

Appearance of the leftover vaccine reservation application / Photo by Yonhap News

Citizens express feelings of frustration. Since anyone who knows about macros can easily apply for leftover vaccines, there are criticisms of relative deprivation. There are also complaints that using macros is practically close to an 'unfair method.'

A man in his 20s, office worker A, who has been focused on applying for leftover vaccines for several days, said, "I learned through the news that there is a program that automatically reserves leftover vaccines," and added, "Then, were all the people who have been waiting for alerts and clicking frantically for tens of hours until now just wasting their efforts?"

Another office worker B (31) said, "It's frustrating that some people easily reserve vaccines using macros," but also pointed out, "The leftover vaccine reservation system was started with the intention of fairly distributing leftover vaccines to other citizens, but if more people use unfair methods like this, won't only honest people end up being fools?"

Leftover vaccines refer to surplus vaccines remaining because the scheduled recipients do not show up. The government is implementing a reservation system that allows only applicants to receive leftover vaccines to prevent disposal of surplus doses.

On the 19th, medical staff at the Busanjin-gu COVID-19 Vaccination Center in Busan administered vaccines to high school seniors. / Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, leftover vaccines were administered by applicants directly contacting nearby public health centers, but now the process has been unified through a reservation app. However, recently, domestic vaccine supplies have decreased, and the number of leftover vaccine applicants has surged, intensifying competition.

In this situation, quarantine authorities plan to devise measures to block vaccine reservations made using macro programs.

Jung Woojin, head of the system management team at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Task Force, acknowledged on the 28th during a back briefing, "There are limits to detecting new macros in advance," but explained, "When new macros appear, we apply individual blocks through pattern analysis."

He added, "We are continuously discussing finding macros through Naver and Kakao. We have an emergency meeting scheduled today as well," and said, "This discussion is aimed at finding ways to prevent reservation attempts using macros from the perspective of fairness as much as possible."

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