Vaccination at Schools Starting from the 13th... Vaccination Demand Survey Ends Today

School-Level Vaccination Demand Survey Until the 12th
Yoo Eun-hye and Jung Eun-kyung Hold Afternoon Video Meeting on Youth Vaccine
Continued Student and Parent Opposition to Quarantine Pass Implementation

On the 7th, a condolence wreath with phrases urging full in-person attendance measures and the withdrawal of the youth vaccine pass was installed in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Starting from the 13th, school-based vaccination will be implemented to increase the vaccination rate among children and adolescents.

The Ministry of Education will operate an intensive vaccination support period from the 13th to the 24th. Public health center vaccination teams will visit schools to administer vaccines, or students will visit public health centers in groups, such as high school seniors (Grade 12), to receive vaccinations collectively.

The target age groups, which include Grade 8 and Grades 10 and 11, usually take their final exams from the 6th to the 24th, and vaccinations are expected to begin first at schools that have completed their final exams.

By the 12th, the Ministry of Education will complete a "school-unit vaccination demand survey" through a self-diagnosis app targeting parents and students. The original survey deadline was the 8th but has been extended by four days. The Ministry stated, "The survey period has been extended to sufficiently reflect demand."

The Ministry of Education is actively recommending vaccination for children and adolescents to maintain full in-person schooling. From the 2nd to the 8th, the average daily number of confirmed student cases nationwide rose to 706.6. As of the 9th, the rate of those who completed the second dose remained in the mid-30% range.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye will chair a video conference on adolescent vaccination at 2 p.m. today, attended by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Deputy Prime Minister Yoo and KDCA Commissioner Jung Eun-kyung will review preparations for school-based vaccinations and discuss support and supplementary measures.

On the 7th, a press conference organized by the Seoul Parents Association was held in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education in Jongno-gu, Seoul, calling for "measures for full in-person classes and the withdrawal of the vaccine pass." / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Parents have expressed dissatisfaction with the government's policy shift from voluntary to actively recommended vaccination for children and adolescents. In particular, there is strong opposition to the plan to apply the vaccine pass to 12-18-year-olds at academies, study rooms, and study cafes starting next February, which is seen as de facto mandatory vaccination.

At a meeting on the 8th involving the Ministry of Education, vaccine experts, parents, and students, opinions were raised such as, "Why apply the vaccine pass to academies and study rooms but not to religious facilities, department stores, or amusement parks?", "It is hard to understand that the vaccine pass is applied less than two months after giving vaccination choice," and "Extending business restriction hours would be a more effective and prior guideline than forcing adolescent vaccination."

In response, Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hye said, "We are actively encouraging vaccination and advising those who are unvaccinated to undergo regular PCR testing, even if it causes some inconvenience." She added, "Regarding the vaccine pass application, we will actively seek improvement measures to increase acceptance on the ground by reflecting concerns without undermining social consensus or principles, and will also coordinate with related ministries."

The Ministry of Education stated that it will provide opportunities to listen to field opinions from parents and education office officials regarding vaccination and will continue communication through meetings and site visits with the industry to resolve parents' complaints related to the vaccine pass system.

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