Vaccinations Resume After Four Days... 30-Minute Rest After Vaccination
Cho Hee-yeon: "Considering Adjusting School Attendance Policy... Will Adjust According to Social Distancing Guidelines"
On the morning of April 13, when the first COVID-19 vaccinations for special and health teachers and other school staff began, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (third from the left), observed the vaccination of Sim Yeon-ju, a health teacher at Hongje Elementary School, at the Seodaemun-gu Public Health Center in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. 2021. 4. 13 Photo by Joint Press Corps
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] "I was a little worried for the students, but I voluntarily decided to get vaccinated. After getting the shot, it doesn't hurt at all." (Shim Yeonju, health teacher at Hongje Elementary School)
On the 13th, Shim, who visited the COVID-19 vaccination room on the 2nd floor of the Seodaemun-gu Public Health Center in Seoul, was the first among the vaccination candidates to receive the vaccine that day. Shim rolled up the sleeve of her one-piece dress and received the injection in her upper arm, then moved to the treatment room to rest for 30 minutes. Vaccinees have their blood pressure, pulse, and respiration checked here, and if no adverse reactions occur, they are allowed to go home. Before vaccination, Shim sanitized her hands, had her temperature checked, consulted with a doctor, and received vaccine administration instructions.
Health officer Yoon Yuseon explained, "Symptoms like headache, body aches, and muscle pain are common, and in severe cases, diarrhea may occur. However, for those aged 50 and above, such symptoms are usually absent and typically resolve within two days. If symptoms like headache persist for more than four days, you must visit a hospital." Until the 28th, 112 staff members who agreed to vaccination at this location will receive the vaccine.
Cho Heeyeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, who visited the health center, encouraged teachers to get vaccinated but expressed concern about the recent trend in confirmed cases. Superintendent Cho said, "So far, we have been expanding daily attendance to address concerns about childcare gaps and learning delays, but the situation has become serious enough to consider raising the alert level, so there are cautious opinions about adjusting the attendance policy. If the government readjusts social distancing standards, we will correspondingly adjust the attendance policy."
The education authorities plan to vaccinate kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 teachers in June, and the remaining staff within the third quarter.
Oh Jeonghun, Director of Physical Education, Health, Culture, and Arts at the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "To alleviate anxiety about vaccination, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency must continuously provide accurate information. Unless psychological anxiety disappears, avoidance will continue. I believe that vaccination for teachers and related staff who have close contact with children should be expedited."
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on priority vaccination for 8,940 health and special education teachers and support staff in Seoul showed that 6,019 people, or 67.3%, agreed. The priority vaccination consent rates by occupation were ▲health teachers 75.8% ▲health support staff 68.9% ▲special school teachers 70.8% ▲special school support staff 60.8% ▲special school administrative staff 75.5%. Vaccinations began on the 8th, but were suspended for about four days due to controversy over AstraZeneca blood clot side effects and resumed after four days. The health authorities recommended that those under 30 not receive the vaccine.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
