Fire Agency Strengthens Deployment Readiness for 'Vaccine Adverse Reactions' in Island Areas

Pre-Inspection of Helicopter Landing and Takeoff Sites in 194 Island Areas Across 7 Cities and Provinces

On the 16th, as the spread of COVID-19 continues, elderly people aged 75 and over who received the Pfizer vaccine are waiting in the adverse reaction monitoring area at the vaccination center set up in Yongsan Art Hall, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 22nd, the National Fire Agency announced that it will strengthen the readiness of the nationwide 119 Aviation Units to respond swiftly to adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines among residents of island regions.

Starting from May, COVID-19 vaccinations for the elderly living in island areas will begin; however, due to the lack of emergency medical facilities in these regions, immediate response to adverse vaccine reactions is challenging.

Accordingly, the National Fire Agency will enhance the readiness of the 119 Aviation Units so that firefighting helicopters can be dispatched promptly to handle adverse vaccine reactions in island areas.

From the 1st to the 16th, pre-inspections of helicopter takeoff and landing sites were conducted across 194 island locations in 7 metropolitan cities and provinces. The inspection identified a total of 102 sites suitable for helicopter takeoff and landing: 9 in Incheon, 4 in Gyeonggi, 13 in Gyeongnam, 52 in Jeonnam, 5 in Jeonbuk, 14 in Chungnam, and 5 in Jeju.

There were 92 sites where takeoff and landing were not possible due to limited space: 5 in Incheon, 11 in Gyeongnam, 52 in Jeonnam, 13 in Jeonbuk, and 11 in Chungnam. However, 4 sites in Jeonbuk have land bridges allowing vehicle access.

For locations where helicopter takeoff and landing are not feasible, to ensure prompt hospital transfer, the plan is to use vessels operated by the Coast Guard and local governments to move patients to key island locations or the mainland, from where they will be transported by firefighting helicopters or other means.

Meanwhile, the National Fire Agency conducted comprehensive inspections of emergency medical equipment, maritime flight equipment, and night dispatch equipment at the Central 119 Rescue Headquarters and nationwide 119 Aviation Units. They also carried out simulation training to identify and address potential issues at each stage from dispatch to patient transfer and return.

Oh Seung-hoon, Director of the Aviation Communications Division, stated, "We are strengthening cooperation with related agencies by sharing the helicopter takeoff and landing site inspection results with emergency medical helicopter operators such as the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Police, Coast Guard, and Korea Forest Service," adding, "We will respond immediately in cooperation with related agencies in case of adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines."