President Moon: "A Major Turnaround in Vaccine Distrust... Health Authorities and Medical Staff Worked Hard"

Presiding over the 3rd Special COVID-19 Response Inspection Meeting... "Since the public is exhausted, summer vacation should balance quarantine and rest"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] On the 7th, President Moon Jae-in presided over the '3rd Special COVID-19 Response Quarantine Inspection Meeting' at the Blue House and evaluated, "The quarantine and health authorities and medical staff worked very hard to quickly overcome the distrust that vaccine introduction was delayed and to completely reverse the atmosphere."

President Moon said, "Confidently inform that the government has so far planned with experts and has been carrying out vaccinations without any setbacks," and spoke as follows.

Blue House spokesperson Park Kyung-mi explained in a written briefing that "President Moon presided over the special quarantine inspection meeting this afternoon and received reports on comfortable and safe summer vacation measures in the COVID era, COVID-19 vaccination promotion plans, support plans for the 3rd quarter vaccination plan, the status of domestic vaccine development and future plans, and follow-up plans for the Korea-US Global Vaccine Partnership."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon said, "As COVID-19 quarantine has continued for over a year, the people are exhausted, so please achieve a balance between quarantine and rest during this summer vacation," and instructed, "Seek ways to disperse the timing and location of vacations through tripartite labor-management-government agreements."

In particular, President Moon urged, "Last year during the heatwave, there was a situation where medical staff were exhausted, but this year, since the scope of work has expanded to include vaccinations, make efforts to ensure appropriate rest for medical staff."

President Moon requested, "Closely monitor international trends regarding improved vaccines that are effective against variant viruses or vaccines combining COVID-19 and influenza in one shot, discuss with experts, and strive to secure improved vaccines."

Regarding the Korea-US Global Vaccine Partnership, President Moon said, "Since this goes beyond the scope of the work done so far, strengthen the organization and promotion system related to the Korea-US Global Vaccine Partnership."

President Moon added, "In the case of guardians of pediatric cancer patients or neonatal intensive care patients, although they themselves are not a priority, it is necessary to build immunity to properly care for and protect the children, so consider reviewing the option to include them as priority vaccination targets."