Vaccine Reservations for Ages 16-17 Start Today... "Worries About Side Effects and Disadvantages"

Lower Vaccination Rate Expected Than High School Seniors Due to Side Effect Concerns
Vaccination Reservations from October 5 to 29, Vaccinations Start from the 18th
Vaccination Is a Personal Choice, Schools Urged Not to Coerce

On the 27th, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, citizens who received vaccines are waiting in the adverse reaction monitoring area at the vaccination center set up in Bukahyeon Culture and Sports Center, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Vaccination reservations for 16-17-year-olds, corresponding to 1st and 2nd year high school students, will begin on the 5th. Vaccinations will be carried out individually with parental consent, and due to concerns about side effects, the vaccination rate is expected to be much lower than that of 3rd year high school students.

Reservations for vaccinations for 16-17-year-olds (born in 2004-2005) will be accepted from 8 p.m. on the day until 6 p.m. on the 29th. Vaccinations will be administered over four weeks from the 18th of this month to the 13th of next month. Although there is no procedure to confirm parental consent at the reservation stage, a parental consent form must be brought at the time of vaccination. If vaccinated, attendance will be recognized for up to three days including the day of vaccination. If the vaccination date overlaps with exam schedules, recognized points will be granted according to city/province guidelines, but a doctor's certificate or proof of vaccination must also be submitted immediately after vaccination.

The only vaccine currently available for 12-17-year-olds in Korea is Pfizer. However, due to side effects such as myocarditis occurring among teenagers, many students and parents in this age group are postponing or refusing vaccination. A 2nd year high school student said, "I hesitate because of the side effects, even though my friends around me say they will get vaccinated," adding, "I'm also worried that I might be disadvantaged if I don't get vaccinated this time." Another 1st year student said, "Because of the side effects, it would be more inconvenient if my studies or daily life were disrupted, and my parents do not encourage it, so I am trying not to get vaccinated."

Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Ewha Mokdong Hospital explained, "If you have obesity, juvenile diabetes, congenital heart disease, or immune system disorders, COVID-19 infection can lead to severe illness or higher hospitalization rates, so it is better to get at least the first dose," but added, "If you are afraid of vaccination or uncertain, it is better to follow quarantine guidelines."

On the morning of the 28th, students at Dongseong High School in Jongno-gu, Seoul, underwent rapid self-molecular diagnostic gene amplification (rapid PCR) and saliva-based COVID-19 tests as they arrived at school. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education expanded the "Mobile Specimen Collection Teams for Educational Facilities" from one team to more than four teams and designated the period until the 6th of next month as an "Intensive Multi-layered Quarantine Period," including a pilot operation of rapid PCR testing at five dormitory-operated schools.
/Photo by Joint Press Corps

The quarantine authorities emphasized that the benefits of vaccination are clear, citing a 95.8% prevention rate after vaccination among 3rd year high school students, but left the decision to vaccinate entirely up to the individual. The rapid increase in confirmed cases among 1st and 2nd year students after the 3rd year vaccinations is also one reason for recommending vaccination. The Ministry of Education reiterated that schools should not coerce vaccination or disadvantage students who do not get vaccinated.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye held a video conference with vice superintendents of metropolitan and provincial offices of education to review support for vaccinations for 12-17-year-olds and the student infection situation. Yoo said, "Vaccination for children and adolescents is closely linked to safe school life for our children, recovery from educational gaps caused by prolonged remote learning, and maintaining expanded in-person attendance. It is time for everyone to work together to provide accurate information to parents and ensure voluntary and safe vaccination."

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