"Let's Get Vaccinated Quickly"... COVID-19 Vaccine In-House Vaccination Ignites Among Large Corporations

Estimated 60-70% of Total Eligible Employees Apply for Vaccination by Major Companies

Medical staff are preparing for COVID-19 vaccination. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] As corporate COVID-19 vaccination programs began on the 27th of last month and have now passed one week, the vaccination process is accelerating due to active participation from employees of the companies involved.

According to industry sources on the 5th, the number of applicants for in-house vaccination at major domestic conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics and other Samsung affiliates, is reported to be around 60-70% of the total eligible employees.

A Samsung Electronics representative stated, "Although we cannot disclose exact numbers, excluding employees who have already been vaccinated or have expressed their intention to get vaccinated individually, a significant portion is participating in the in-house vaccination," adding, "So far, the vaccination is proceeding as planned without any particular issues."

Samsung Electronics is currently conducting vaccinations for employees aged 18 to 59 and partner company workers at business sites with in-house clinics located in Suwon, Gumi, Gwangju, Giheung, Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, and Cheonan.

According to Samsung Electronics' business report, the number of employees working on major product production lines as of the first quarter of this year is estimated to be around 70,000. Applying the vaccination application rate, approximately 40,000 employees are expected to receive vaccines through the in-house medical centers.

Samsung Display also targets about 23,000 employees working at its Asan, Giheung, and Cheonan sites for vaccination, with an estimated 70% participation rate excluding those already vaccinated.

At Hyundai Motor Group, employees at Namyang Research Center and Kia’s Gwangmyeong, Hwaseong, and Gwangju plants are undergoing in-house vaccinations. The Namyang Research Center is conducting vaccinations sequentially through today, with about 10,000 employees having applied for vaccination. Kia completed vaccinations for about 20,000 employees in just one day on the 30th of last month.

Additionally, SK Hynix and LG Display have also started workplace vaccinations. A LG Display representative said, "Among approximately 24,000 employees at the Paju and Gumi production lines, a significant number have applied for vaccination." The number is estimated to be around 15,000.

According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Promotion Team, about 40 companies have applied for workplace vaccinations, through which 303,159 people will be vaccinated. This initiative is led by health authorities to increase vaccination speed and convenience. For companies that apply, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency supplies vaccines and syringes to the in-house clinics, which then conduct vaccinations according to their own plans. Initially, Moderna vaccines were to be supplied, but due to government supply circumstances, Pfizer vaccines were provided instead.

Companies plan to complete the first dose by the 20th of this month and administer the second dose between August 25 and September 17, with a 3-4 week interval. In workplaces such as semiconductor and display production lines that operate 24 hours, employees are vaccinated sequentially according to shift schedules. These workplaces grant 1-2 days of vaccination leave to employees who receive the vaccine.

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