Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hye: "Please Ensure No Coercion or Disadvantages in Vaccination"

Yoo Eun-hye "Must Pay Attention to Providing Sufficient Information to School Sites"
Infection Routes After September Largely Similar to First Semester

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye held the "16th School Daily Recovery Support Group Meeting" with deputy superintendents of education from metropolitan and provincial offices of education nationwide on the 5th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye urged on the COVID-19 vaccination for 12-17 year-olds, saying, "Please create an atmosphere where student vaccination is not forced and no disadvantages occur."

At the 16th School Daily Recovery Support Group meeting held on the 5th with deputy superintendents of education from nationwide city and provincial offices of education attending, Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "Since both parents and teachers have many concerns about vaccination, please pay special attention to ensuring that the Ministry of Education and the offices of education provide sufficient information to schools based on the information provided by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency."

Vaccination reservations for 16-17 year-olds among children and adolescents will be held from 8 PM on the day until 6 PM on the 29th. Vaccinations will be administered from the 18th to November 13. Reservations for 12-15 year-olds will be held from the 18th to November 12, with vaccinations taking place from November 1 to 27.

Although the scope of school attendance expanded from the second semester, the proportion of infection routes was generally similar to that of the first semester. According to an analysis by the Ministry of Education of students' infection routes after expanding school attendance from the 6th of last month, family infections accounted for the highest at 46.9%. Unknown causes (21.8%) were more than infections through schools (16.4%).

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo explained, "Currently, the first-dose vaccination rate for the entire population has reached 77.4%, and the completion rate is 53%, so the risk of community infection will gradually stabilize," but added, "We cannot say that schools and students' safety is fully guaranteed by this trend alone, so the government has planned the vaccination of children and adolescents with difficulty."

He continued, "After the completion of vaccination for high school seniors, the COVID-19 confirmation rate has decreased, and currently, among all school levels and grades in elementary, middle, and high schools, it shows the lowest level."

Deputy Prime Minister Yoo said, "In advanced countries such as the UK, France, Germany, the United States, Japan, and China, vaccination for 12-17 year-olds is underway, so Korea cannot delay the promotion of vaccination any longer," and added, "The government will do its best to provide sufficient information on the effects of vaccination and concerns about side effects."

He urged the deputy superintendents, "Please carefully monitor whether students have any health abnormalities during educational activities after vaccination, and if adverse reactions occur, ensure that they can receive medical treatment immediately according to the provided response guidelines."

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