[Press Conference] "Vaccines Are Not Too Late... Government Will Fully Compensate for Side Effects" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Wondara, Lim Chunhan, Jeon Jinyoung] President Moon Jae-in stated at the New Year's press conference that COVID-19 vaccinations will begin in February, and herd immunity is expected to be established by November. He also mentioned that the possibility of side effects has been thoroughly examined and that the government plans to provide sufficient compensation if any side effects occur.

At the New Year's press conference held at the Blue House on the morning of the 18th, President Moon responded to a question about the delay in vaccine administration compared to other countries by saying, "Compared to other countries, Korea is by no means late; rather, I believe it will be faster."

He continued, "The quarantine authorities said the first vaccinations would be around late February or early March, and there is a possibility that COVAX supplies will arrive first. The timing of vaccine arrival and administration may be slightly advanced." He emphasized, "Vaccines are being introduced quickly and sufficient quantities have been secured. Since these are newly developed vaccines, we diversified the risk by purchasing various vaccines." When asked if he regrets the delay in securing vaccines for Korea, he firmly replied, "No."

Regarding the target date for herd immunity, he said, "Vaccination takes time, and vaccines have expiration dates, so we plan to complete the first dose by September starting from February. Around that time, herd immunity will generally be achieved. I believe herd immunity will be fully established by November at the latest."

On questions about the possibility of vaccine side effects and safety, he stated that thorough verification has been conducted and that the government will provide sufficient compensation if side effects occur. President Moon said, "You can be reassured. The public can trust the Korean vaccination process more." He added, "Just because a vaccine has received temporary approval abroad does not mean it can be immediately used in Korea. The Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety will re-examine safety according to Korean standards and only vaccines approved through this process will be administered to the public." He explained, "By observing vaccination cases abroad, we have been able to analyze probabilities sufficiently."

However, he noted, "All vaccines have some side effects, ranging from very mild pain to more serious side effects." He said, "In such cases, the Korean government will take full responsibility for the side effects." He reiterated, "If side effects beyond the normal range occur, the government will provide sufficient compensation."

Regarding the easing of social distancing and the timeline for economic recovery, he expressed confidence, saying, "I believe Korea can become a country that succeeds in quarantine ahead of any other country in the world and can quickly restore daily life and the economy." He added, "To the public, although the number of confirmed cases has dropped to the 300s today, please do not let your guard down. If you endure and overcome this period just a little longer, I expect that the quarantine measures can be eased."