[2021 National Audit] Only 2 Cases Recognized as Industrial Accidents for 'COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects'

October 15 National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee Audit
Kim Woong "Establish Procedures and Standards for Occupational Accidents of Essential Workers"

Member of the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee Kim Woong of the People Power Party reviewing documents at the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee audit held on the 15th at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been revealed that only two cases of COVID-19 vaccine side effects have been recognized as industrial accidents. There are calls to establish specific criteria to recognize vaccine side effects, at least those occurring in priority vaccination groups, as industrial accidents.

On the 15th, Kim Woong, a member of the Environment and Labor Committee from the People Power Party, questioned Kang Soonhee, the director of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service, during the National Assembly audit of institutions under the Ministry of Employment and Labor.

Rep. Kim pointed out, "In August, two healthcare workers experienced vaccine side effects, but some cases were recognized as work-related accidents while others were not."

On August 6, the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service recognized an industrial accident for a nursing assistant who developed quadriplegia due to encephalomyelitis after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine. This was the first case of vaccine-related industrial accident recognition.

However, in the same month, a nurse B, a priority vaccination recipient who developed infectious spinal cord disease after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, was denied approval for her claim.

Rep. Kim stated, "Only two cases of vaccine side effects have been recognized as industrial accidents," and added, "Specific procedures and criteria should be established to recognize work-related accidents for side effects occurring in priority vaccination workers who must receive the vaccine, such as restaurant cooks."

A representative from the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service explained, "There are not many cases applying for industrial accident recognition due to vaccine side effects," adding, "So far, a total of 21 applications have been received: 2 approved, 3 denied, 2 returned, and 15 cases are still in progress."

Meanwhile, during the two-day National Assembly audit of the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 6th and 7th, victims of adverse vaccine reactions voiced their real difficulties, drawing public attention.

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