Discussion Underway for Priority Vaccination of University Staff Working Face-to-Face
Parents Not Considered for Priority Due to Different Occupations and Ages
Possibility of Selective Vaccination for Repeat Students Registered for September Mock Exam
On the 4th, a medical staff member is aliquoting the Pfizer vaccine at the Sadang Comprehensive Sports Center COVID-19 Vaccination Center in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. (Photo by Yonhap News)
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education announced that it is currently consulting with health authorities regarding priority vaccination for university staff who perform face-to-face duties. Ahead of full in-person classes in the second semester, the ministry stated that it will not separately promote vaccinations for parents but will include them in the adult vaccination program planned for the third quarter.
At the regular briefing on the 7th, a ministry official said, "We conveyed the universities' request to prioritize vaccination for face-to-face staff during discussions between Deputy Prime Minister Yoo Eun-hye and the Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)." However, the priority vaccination status or schedule for university staff has not yet been finalized.
Regarding opinions that parents should be vaccinated because students other than high school seniors (Grade 12) cannot be vaccinated, the Ministry of Education explained, "Since parents have different occupations and ages, no separate proposal was made."
The ministry official added, "Experts have suggested that vaccinating parents or teachers first would reduce the spread of infection among children, so parent vaccination should start first," but also noted, "The KDCA's basic policy is to administer at least one dose of vaccine to adults within the third quarter."
On the 28th, elderly individuals at the vaccination center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, are filling out pre-screening questionnaires for COVID-19 vaccination. According to the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team on the same day, the number of new first-dose vaccinations the previous day reached 640,000, combining 560,000 recipients of the AZ vaccine and 80,000 recipients of the Pfizer vaccine. This is the largest daily vaccination scale ever recorded. The nationwide first-dose vaccination rate, which had maintained the 7% range since the 7th, is expected to exceed 8% and enter the 9% range within 21 days. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Vaccinations for high school seniors and repeat test-takers preparing for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) are also planned to be carried out during the summer vacation. To identify repeat test-takers, the ministry is considering vaccinating those who take the September CSAT mock exam. Both high school seniors and repeat test-takers will receive the Pfizer vaccine.
An official from the Ministry of Education said, "So far, the plan under discussion is to vaccinate those registered for the September mock exam during July," but added, "Concerns about people registering falsely for vaccination will be communicated to the relevant department for review."
Additionally, the Ministry of Education and KDCA have decided to administer Pfizer or Moderna vaccines to kindergarten and daycare center staff, first and second-grade elementary school teachers, and childcare workers under the age of 30. Health and special education teachers under 30, who were previously not recommended to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, will now be eligible for vaccination.
The ministry official stated, "Reservations will be accepted from today until the 15th, and vaccinations will be administered at vaccination centers from the 15th to the 26th," adding, "The remaining staff will be vaccinated before the end of summer vacation. The KDCA will announce the third-quarter vaccination schedule as soon as it is finalized."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
