Reuters "1.77 Million People in Korea Receive First Vaccine Dose... Increased Doses Per Vial Due to Low Dead Space Syringes"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The number of people who have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea has surpassed 2 million.

Vaccination is progressing well in Gangnam-gu. In particular, vaccinations for 23,112 seniors aged 75 and older, as well as users and workers of elderly care facilities, began last Thursday at the Irwon Eco Center and are being carried out on a daily basis. So far, 2,373 people have been vaccinated.

Fortunately, no one has reported any side effects to date. Among those vaccinated, 10 people experienced mild symptoms such as fever or muscle pain, but all recovered within a day or two and are currently living in good health.

Those who received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine will receive their second dose sequentially starting in early May, three weeks after the first dose. From the 29th, residents of Sinsa-dong, Apgujeong-dong, Cheongdam-dong, and Nonhyeon 1 and 2-dong will be vaccinated at the Gangnam Tourism Information Center (161 Apgujeong-ro).

So far, 400 seniors aged 75 and older have been vaccinated daily at the Eco Center, and with the additional operation of the Tourism Information Center, up to 700 vaccinations per day will be possible.

The Gangnam Tourism Information Center is equipped with three preliminary examination rooms and five vaccination rooms, as well as separate observation and emergency treatment rooms to monitor adverse reactions after vaccination. Emergency bells have been installed at every seat to enable immediate response in urgent situations, and simulation training for safe vaccination is being conducted.

Gangnam-gu Office is continuously monitoring not only vaccination centers but also 19 locations conducting their own vaccinations, such as Gangnam Severance Hospital, to ensure that vaccines supplied by the government are not wasted.

Although vaccination is progressing smoothly, the COVID-19 situation remains unstable. As of midnight on the 23rd, there were 797 new confirmed cases, marking the third consecutive day with numbers in the 700s. The number of confirmed variant virus infections in the country has increased to 449, and when combined with 465 confirmed cases epidemiologically linked to them, the total reaches 914.

India, where the "double mutant" variant has been confirmed, recorded over 310,000 new cases in a single day, setting a world record. In South Korea, nine cases of the India-origin variant have been confirmed, but no additional transmission cases have been identified yet.

On the 22nd, Reuters mentioned a low dead space syringe developed by a domestic company, reporting that "1.77 million people, or 3.4% of the total population, have received the first dose," increasing the number of doses per vaccine vial. Comparing with Japan, it evaluated that "South Korea is responding decisively to COVID-19."

The health authorities expect that if 12 million people are vaccinated by June, the risk of infection will be significantly reduced. Cooperation from the public is crucial to achieve herd immunity. We urge all residents of Gangnam-gu to trust the government and participate in vaccination in the designated order for the health of themselves, their families, and loved ones.

Now, let me explain the current COVID-19 status and key policies in Gangnam-gu.

As of the 23rd, Gangnam-gu has reported up to case number 1858. Cases 1842, 1852, and 1856 were confirmed positive after contact with confirmed cases from other regions; case 1843 was confirmed after contact with a confirmed Gangnam-gu resident. Cases 1844, 1845, 1847, and 1858 are family members of confirmed Gangnam-gu residents, and case 1851 was confirmed after entry into the country. Cases 1846, 1848 to 1850, 1853 to 1855, and 1857 tested positive with symptoms such as cough, but their infection routes are unknown and epidemiological investigations are ongoing.

As of the 23rd, Gangnam-gu is managing 1,383 people in self-quarantine, including 626 overseas entrants and 757 domestic contacts.

The cumulative number of tests conducted at Gangnam-gu Public Health Center’s screening clinics and temporary screening sites is 355,636. On the 22nd, among 3,319 tested individuals, 24 were overseas entrants and 3,295 were domestic residents.

Many residents are worried as cluster infections continue in everyday places such as schools and academies. Gangnam-gu will conduct special inspections by next Wednesday on 84 locations with high infection risk, including wind instrument and singing academies and acting schools. Gangnam-gu will continue to work with the education office to ensure that all educational institutions in the area strictly follow quarantine guidelines to protect students' health and safety.

Recently, the Gangnam-gu Smart Infectious Disease Management Center has recorded over 2,000 tests per day, the highest number among 620 screening clinics nationwide. This is due to the introduction of QR codes this month, which simplified the electronic questionnaire process. Including two temporary screening sites (near Samsung Station Exit 6 and Bangjukso Park in Segok-dong), up to 4,000 tests can be conducted daily. This reduces registration and waiting times and significantly lowers the workload of medical staff, attracting inquiries from other local governments.

The "Mimi We Date with the District Mayor," which was temporarily suspended due to the Seoul mayoral by-election, will resume next month. It is a communication event held at 3 p.m. on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, where I personally meet and communicate with residents one by one. Residents can apply through the district office website or the "The Gangnam" app, and we encourage active participation.

Additionally, to provide detailed explanations about various policies and projects carried out by Gangnam-gu, policy briefings are uploaded every Tuesday on the website.

Residents are reminded that even a small lapse in vigilance can lead to a large spread, so please strictly follow quarantine rules such as wearing masks and social distancing.

Have a healthy weekend. Thank you.