If Vaccine Refusal, Move to Lower Priority and Get Another Chance After November

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun visited the headquarters of SK Bioscience in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 20th and observed the ultra-low temperature vaccine transport container for transporting COVID-19 vaccines.

If a COVID-19 vaccination candidate refuses vaccination when it is their turn, they will only get another chance to be vaccinated after November.

On the 20th, Jeong Gyeong-sil, Head of the Vaccination Management Division at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, stated at the regular COVID-19 briefing, "If a candidate refuses vaccination, they will be moved to a lower priority, and (those who refused) can expect to be vaccinated after the entire population’s vaccination is completed in November."

Regarding unvaccinated workers, she said, "The government does not officially consider restricting work for employees who refuse vaccination, whether in nursing hospitals or nursing facilities," adding, "This is because vaccination itself is based on voluntary participation."

She explained, "For workers who have not been vaccinated, we will continue to conduct PCR tests at least once a week to thoroughly block the virus from entering nursing hospitals or nursing facilities."

In response to the question, "If there is a hospital that mandates vaccination, will any measures be taken?" she said, "Rather than mandating vaccination, I think it was an expression of the desire that 'it would be better to get vaccinated to protect medical staff and patients,'" and added, "The quarantine authorities have no plans to take separate measures regarding hospital staff management."

The government will begin COVID-19 vaccinations on the 26th of this month for residents under 65 years old and workers in nursing hospitals, nursing facilities, and mental health and rehabilitation facilities nationwide.

The vaccine used for the first vaccinations will be the product developed by AstraZeneca, and vaccines produced by Pfizer, Moderna, Janssen, and Novavax will also be used for vaccinations as soon as they are delivered to Korea.