"A Bit Nervous but Soon Felt Better"... 'Full of Excitement and Anticipation' at the Vaccine Vaccination Site

9 AM 'Vaccine Inoculation Begins' at Dobong-gu Health Center Observed

On the 26th, when the vaccination for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) began, workers at nursing hospitals and nursing facilities were registering to receive the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine at the Dobong-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] "Maybe because I couldn't sleep last night, I felt a bit nauseous at first, but now I'm fine." (Kim Jeong-ok, Director of Noah Rehabilitation Nursing Home, the first vaccine recipient at Dobong-gu Public Health Center)

At 9 a.m. on the 26th, COVID-19 vaccinations began simultaneously for 5,266 residents and workers at 213 nursing facilities nationwide. This is about one year and one month since the first confirmed case was reported in the country in January last year. The health authorities did not specify a single first recipient but designated everyone receiving the vaccine starting at 9 a.m. as the first recipients.

At Dobong-gu Public Health Center, as scheduled, 10 eligible recipients were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. About 60 people were scheduled to be vaccinated at the health center throughout the day in staggered time slots.

At 8:49 a.m., the first recipient, Kim Jeong-ok, entered the health center. She went up to the 4th floor where vaccinations were being administered, submitted her medical questionnaire and ID to complete registration. Then she moved to the pre-examination area where the physician checked her vaccination eligibility, allergies, and blood pressure. Meanwhile, about 10 women aged 20 to 60 who were scheduled for vaccination waited outside the vaccination room.

On the 26th, when COVID-19 vaccinations began in South Korea, workers at nursing hospitals and nursing facilities are receiving preliminary examinations before vaccination at Dobong-gu Public Health Center in Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The actual vaccination in the room was completed quickly within 7 to 8 seconds. First, the medical staff took a vial from the vaccine storage, disinfected the vial’s opening, and drew the vaccine into a syringe in the usual manner. After vaccination, the staff explained, "The injection site may swell or hurt. If you develop a high fever after going home, visit a hospital. It is best not to bathe today. Please wait for 15 minutes here, and rest for at least 3 hours after returning home." The second dose is scheduled 8 weeks after the first.

While waiting in the observation room, Kim briefly complained of nausea. The medical staff immediately checked her pulse and blood pressure. After 30 minutes, Kim left the observation room saying, "I felt a bit nauseous while sitting earlier, but after 15 minutes, I felt better. It’s good." She added, "If herd immunity is well established, the elderly will be able to have visits freely, and people can take off their masks and return to normal life. I’m happy about that."

On the 26th, when the COVID-19 vaccination began, medical staff at the Dobong-gu Public Health Center in Seoul administered the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine to workers at nursing hospitals and nursing facilities. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The second recipient from the same hospital, Oh Jeong-hwa (45), said, "Rather than feeling nervous or scared, I was worried because reports said the preventive effect varies depending on the vaccine type." She added, "After vaccination, I felt a bit shaky and slightly nauseous, but now I’m fine. I see getting vaccinated as hopeful."

Kim Sang-jun, Director of Dobong-gu Public Health Center, said, "We are going through a crisis, and the way to return to normal life is by getting the COVID-19 vaccine." He expressed deep feelings as a local health official taking the first step and hoped that this would help residents return to their daily lives quickly.