Authorities: "Priority Vaccination for Teachers and Students to Be Decided Based on Vaccine Introduction and Approval Review Results" (Update)

On the morning of the 27th, when Pfizer vaccine administration began for medical staff treating COVID-19 patients, medical personnel were preparing doses of the Pfizer vaccine in syringes at a sterile workstation (clean bench) inside the Central Vaccination Center at the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] The quarantine authorities stated that they will decide the timing of COVID-19 vaccinations after reviewing the vaccine import situation and approval review results, in response to claims that teachers and students should be given priority for vaccination.

At a regular briefing on the 27th, Jeong Gyeong-sil, head of the Vaccination Management Division of the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, responded to a question about the need for priority vaccination for teachers ahead of the school reopening next month by saying, "According to the vaccination order announced on January 28, teachers are also included in the priority vaccination group."

He added, "The issue of when (teachers) can be vaccinated may vary depending on the progress of vaccinations according to the vaccination order and the vaccine import situation."

Regarding the opinion that if the Pfizer vaccine is recommended for approval for those aged 16 and over, 12th-grade students should be vaccinated first, he explained, "I understand that the Safety and Effectiveness Review Committee of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has conducted a preliminary review of the clinical trial results of the Pfizer vaccine," and added, "Once the (final) approval review results are out, the Vaccination Expert Committee plans to discuss and decide on whether to vaccinate adolescents aged 16 and over."