"Please Get Vaccinated" vs "Who Takes Responsibility for Side Effects?" 'Record High' COVID-19 Cases... Conflicts Over Vaccination

Sharp Rise in Confirmed Cases Halts 'Phased Daily Recovery'
Social Distancing Strengthened Today (16th)... Considering '4 People or Less, 9 PM Curfew'

On the 15th, when 7,850 new COVID-19 cases and 964 critically ill patients were recorded, marking the highest numbers ever, citizens visiting the screening clinic set up at Songpa-gu Public Health Center in Seoul are waiting to be tested. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Vaccines should be taken for the sake of others," "I think it's a personal right. Don't force me."

As COVID-19 cases surge rapidly, conflicts between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals are also arising. While vaccinated people criticize the unvaccinated as "self-centered," those who are unvaccinated express frustration, asking, "Can you take responsibility for vaccine side effects?"

The number of confirmed cases continues to rise, reaching an all-time high. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH), as of 9 p.m. on the 15th, 6,564 people nationwide were confirmed infected, and it is expected to reach the 8,000 range by the morning of the 16th.

The government is considering reinstating social distancing measures equivalent to level 4 about a month after transitioning to 'gradual daily recovery.' The new strengthened quarantine measures will be announced today (the 16th) and are expected to be implemented as early as the 18th through the end of the year.

Earlier, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said at the CDCH meeting on the morning of the same day, "The government views the current quarantine situation very seriously and intends to implement stronger social distancing measures." He also emphasized, "We will prepare appropriate compensation plans for small business owners and self-employed people who will inevitably have to endure pain again."

Given this situation, dissatisfaction toward the unvaccinated is emerging among vaccinated individuals. It is pointed out that the infection rate among the unvaccinated is high and that confirmed cases can cause harm to others. According to the quarantine authorities, the infection rate among unvaccinated people is at a dangerous level. On October 10, KDCA Commissioner Jung Eun-kyung explained, "The unvaccinated group has a 2.7 times higher risk of infection, 22 times higher risk of severe illness, and 9.4 times higher risk of death compared to the fully vaccinated group."

Kim, a man in his 30s who works at an office, said, "Everyone knows the risk of vaccine side effects, but still, isn't it about enduring it to eliminate COVID-19 for oneself and others?" A small business owner in his 40s, Park, pointed out, "If people get vaccinated and the economy recovers, people like us can make a living."

On the other hand, among the unvaccinated, 'concerns about vaccine side effects' are the biggest reason for not getting vaccinated. Another office worker in his 40s, Choi, lamented, "There are too many side effects like getting leukemia after vaccination; how can I get vaccinated?"

Reflecting the concerns of the unvaccinated, recently, a sixth-grade elementary school student posted a petition opposing vaccination on the Blue House National Petition website. This student, who lives in Seocho-gu, Seoul, wrote a petition titled "Why we elementary students oppose the youth vaccine pass," stating, "My parents got vaccinated to prevent us from being exposed to the coronavirus and to keep us from getting vaccinated." He added, "Even though adults get vaccinated, there are countless cases complaining about side effects, so there is no guarantee that it is safe for children to get vaccinated."

He also appealed, "(Those who died after vaccination) had underlying diseases before vaccination, but many people die because of this vaccine, and above all, since we are young, we are scared and afraid because we cannot properly understand what symptoms like chills and nausea that most adults experience after vaccination will manifest as."

On December 22, 2020 (local time), Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), received the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna at the NIH Medical Center in Maryland. [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ If you don't get vaccinated, even dismissal... 'Disadvantages for the unvaccinated' in other countries

While conflicts over vaccination status are occurring in some places, other countries are restricting outings for the unvaccinated. According to the Associated Press on the 14th (local time), Austria announced that starting from midnight on the 15th, people aged 12 and older who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 will have their outings restricted. Violators will face fines up to 1,450 euros (approximately 1.96 million KRW).

However, basic outings such as going to get vaccinated, commuting to work, grocery shopping, and taking walks are allowed. Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said, "Protecting the people is the government's duty. Therefore, there will be lockdowns for the unvaccinated."

Meanwhile, Google, a search engine company, announced that employees who do not get vaccinated against COVID-19 will have their salaries cut and may eventually be dismissed. Google initially required employees to report their vaccination status to the company and upload proof by the 3rd of this month or apply for medical or religious exemptions.

The company explained that employees who did not disclose their vaccination status by the deadline, those who were unvaccinated, or whose exemption requests were denied would be contacted. Employees who do not comply with company guidelines by January 18 next year will be placed on 30 days of paid administrative leave, followed by up to six months of unpaid leave. Employees who still refuse vaccination will ultimately be dismissed.

Apple, which had relaxed mask-wearing from mandatory to optional, recently changed its policy, requiring all employees and customers in all stores in the United States to wear masks. Also, grocery chain Kroger announced that it will not provide some COVID-19-related welfare benefits to unvaccinated employees.

Meanwhile, quarantine authorities expect the spread of COVID-19 to worsen further. The CDCH forecasts that if the current level of COVID-19 spread continues, daily new confirmed cases will reach 8,300 to 9,500 by the end of December and exceed 10,000 in January next year.

Regarding the review of social distancing, the government emphasized that it is a measure appropriate to the current COVID-19 situation. Son Young-rae, head of the Social Strategy Division at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters, said at a regular briefing on the morning of the previous day, "Measures such as limiting the number of people at gatherings have a broad impact on the public, so decisions must be made with careful consideration. Targeted solutions like the third dose for the elderly or quarantine passes for the unvaccinated would be more desirable if effective, but since the trend is slowing but not reversing, a universal measure to reduce social contact is necessary."

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