Seongbuk-gu's First COVID-19 Vaccine Recipient Among Residents Aged 75 and Over: 'National Merit Awardee'

President and Members of Veterans Organizations in Seongbuk-gu Receive First Vaccination at Seongbuk-gu Vaccination Center... Approximately 80% Consent Rate Among Those Aged 75 and Older, Priority Vaccination for National Merit Recipients and Elderly

A national merit recipient from the Seongbuk-gu branch related to veterans is receiving a vaccination in the vaccination room.

Seung-ro Lee, Mayor of Seongbuk-gu, is explaining the guidelines to residents waiting in the adverse reaction observation room after vaccination.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) began the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on the 1st for residents aged 75 and older.

Amid growing interest in the ‘first vaccinated’ elderly in the local community, the district announced that it decided to prioritize vaccination for national veterans and the elderly.

The first four vaccination recipients selected on this day were the president, secretary-general, and members of the Seongbuk-gu branch related to veterans affairs. At 8:30 a.m., the recipients arrived at the vaccination center on the 4th floor of Seongbuk-gu Office. After about one minute of preliminary examination, they moved to the vaccination room and received the injection. The process from arrival at the center to post-vaccination observation for adverse reactions was conducted in a systematic order.

Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro is explaining guidance to residents waiting in the adverse reaction observation room after vaccination on this day.

A national veteran of the Seongbuk-gu branch of the Liberation Association (age 77), who received the vaccination, said, “I had been nervous for several days, but after getting the shot, it was surprisingly painless and rather relieving. Now, once I safely complete the second dose, I think I can live without worry.”

According to the government’s second-quarter vaccination plan, the district collected vaccination consent forms from about 31,000 residents born before December 31, 1946, who have their registered domicile in Seongbuk-gu, through each neighborhood community center starting in March. About 80% of them agreed to receive the vaccine.

A district official said, “Since the Pfizer vaccine recipients are elderly, we are focusing on safety,” adding, “We will thoroughly check the health status of the elderly through careful preliminary examination on the day and conduct meticulous monitoring, including follow-up calls after vaccination.”

Seongbuk-gu Mayor Lee Seung-ro said, “We have mobilized all district administrative capabilities for today’s vaccination,” and added, “In particular, to alleviate concerns about side effects or vaccine shortages and to ensure fairness, we started vaccination prioritizing national veterans and elderly residents rather than group vaccinations by neighborhood,” promising stable vaccine rollout.

Meanwhile, Seongbuk-gu also began operating the vaccination center set up on the 4th floor of the district office simultaneously with the first vaccination for those aged 75 and older. Vaccinations are conducted on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., responsible for vaccinating more than 600 residents daily until November. To comply with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, the center operates strictly by appointment, and the flow from registration to departure is systematized to ensure only a minimal number of people remain at the site.