"Mandatory n-th Dose" vs "Necessary for Daily Recovery"... Heated Debate Over 'Quarantine Pass Validity Period System'

Controversy Grows Over 'Quarantine Pass Validity Period System'
Expires 6 Months After 2nd Vaccination
Backlash Over Alleged Forced 'Nth Vaccination'
Government "Carefully Reviewing Expanded Exception Measures"

On the afternoon of the 3rd, a quarantine pass notice was posted at a restaurant in Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the validity period system for the quarantine pass (vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system) has been implemented, some citizens are increasingly opposing it. There are criticisms that it is effectively forcing 'n-th vaccinations.' In particular, concerns about vaccine side effects have grown after a recent doctor revealed that they only received the first dose for health reasons. However, there is a strong debate that vaccination is the only way to suppress the spread of COVID-19 and restore daily life, and that the quarantine pass is necessary for this.

Earlier, the government introduced the validity period for the quarantine pass starting from the 3rd of this month. Accordingly, even those who have completed the second dose of the vaccine will no longer be recognized as fully vaccinated if six months have passed since their last vaccination. Expired quarantine passes can be renewed through a third 'booster shot' vaccination.

However, after this measure was promoted, some citizens strongly opposed it. They argue that it is forcing 'n-th vaccinations' amid uncertainty about whether proper compensation for vaccine side effects will be provided. On the 4th, a post protesting this was uploaded on the Blue House's public petition board, stating, "I was diagnosed with pericarditis after the second dose, but they are telling me to get the third booster shot."

The petitioner, who identified herself as a woman in her 20s, claimed that she was diagnosed with pericarditis after receiving the second Pfizer vaccine dose on August 25 last year. She said, "I was hospitalized for a month and took many steroids and medications multiple times but did not recover, and I am still undergoing treatment," adding, "I barely survived, but I received a notice from the medical authorities to get the third dose."

Recently, a claim stating "I experienced severe side effects after the second vaccine dose but was instructed to receive the third dose" was posted on the Cheongwadae National Petition Board, sparking controversy. / Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board capture

The petitioner lamented, "While receiving treatment at the hospital, I couldn't work or go to the company, so I suffered significant economic damage, and I paid hundreds of thousands of won in medical bills out of pocket, but the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has not confirmed causality," adding, "Now they are telling me to get the third vaccination."

Concerns about repeated vaccinations have grown further after Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Ewha Mokdong Hospital revealed, "I was only able to receive the first dose for health reasons." In an interview with YTN's 'NewsQ' on the 3rd, Professor Cheon said, "About ten years ago, after receiving another vaccine and being hospitalized, my white blood cell count has been lower than normal," and added, "I understand well the anxiety and side effects many people have about vaccination."

She also pointed out that "such side effects can occur in people with special constitutions like mine," but emphasized the need to establish new vaccination standards for a small number of people with unique physical conditions.

Given this situation, opinions among citizens are divided regarding the 'validity period system for the quarantine pass.' A 20-something office worker, Mr. A, said, "They say you can't even shop at department stores or marts without a quarantine pass, and now they say it expires if you don't get the booster shot. Isn't this effectively forcing vaccinations?" He expressed frustration, saying, "We don't know what side effects might occur from multiple vaccinations, but it feels like they are just forcing us."

Professor Cheon Eun-mi, Department of Pulmonology, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. / Photo by YTN Broadcasting Capture

On the other hand, there were rebuttals that the quarantine pass is necessary to encourage rapid vaccination. Mr. B, a 33-year-old self-employed person, said, "If we don't get vaccinated, we might have to return to social distancing, and then only us self-employed people who have suffered so far will be more harmed," adding, "I think finishing vaccinations quickly and restoring daily life is more beneficial for society as a whole. If the quarantine pass is for that, it's not something I can't understand."

In the medical community, there was also an opinion that the protective effects of vaccines outweigh potential side effects. Professor Lee Jaegab of the Infectious Diseases Department at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital wrote on his Facebook on the 4th, "We already know the effects of vaccination," emphasizing, "It's not that there are no adverse reactions, but I want to stress that the vaccine's preventive effects and severe disease prevention effects are much more important than adverse reactions."

However, he added, "We have repeatedly emphasized that sufficient investigation and compensation are necessary at the government level for severe adverse reactions where causality is proven or difficult to prove," and "I hope there will no longer be cases where people hesitate to get vaccinated due to unscientific claims and remain at risk."

A notice regarding confirmation of completed vaccination is posted in front of a restaurant in Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, the government is considering expanding the scope of exemptions to resolve controversies surrounding the quarantine pass.

Currently, a 'vaccination certificate exemption confirmation' is issued only to some citizens who find it difficult to get vaccinated. The current exemption categories include △ those released from isolation after COVID-19 confirmation △ those who experienced severe adverse reactions after the first dose, leading to postponement or prohibition of the second dose △ those who need to postpone vaccination due to immunodeficiency or administration of immunosuppressants or anticancer drugs △ vaccination contraindication subjects (those with a history of severe allergy to vaccine components).

Regarding this, Kim Gi-nam, head of the Vaccination Management Division at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, explained at the Central Disease Control Headquarters regular briefing on the 6th, "The expansion of exemption recognition is being carefully reviewed considering the purpose of the quarantine pass system, which is to 'protect the unvaccinated and support daily recovery centered on those who have completed vaccination,' and it is currently in the internal review stage."

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