Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju's 'Random Vaccination for Foreigners' Receives Positive Response

Janssen Vaccine Targeting Over 2,800 People... Over 1,550 People Gathered on the First Day

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangsan District, Gwangju Metropolitan City (District Mayor Kim Samho) is receiving great response for its proactive COVID-19 vaccination campaign targeting foreigners to prevent the spread of the virus.

On the 24th, Gwangsan District announced that it is promoting a so-called ‘no-questions-asked vaccination’ program that supports COVID-19 vaccinations for foreign residents in the district regardless of health insurance enrollment or registration status.

However, the program is limited to foreigners aged 30 or older who have stayed in Korea for more than 90 days, excluding simple travelers.

With low vaccination rates among foreign residents vulnerable to infection due to communal living and the continued occurrence of confirmed foreign cases, Gwangsan District has taken a proactive approach to vaccination.

Since the 11th, there have been 136 confirmed cases in the Gwangsan area as of the day before, of which 40 were foreigners.

Gwangsan District plans to use the Janssen vaccine, which requires only one dose, aiming to vaccinate about 2,800 people from next month through October.

In particular, to protect the human rights of foreign residents and increase participation rates, the district is issuing management numbers from the 23rd to the 27th to encourage vaccination among foreigners who are uninsured or unregistered and thus cannot be vaccinated at general medical institutions.

The response has been enthusiastic. On the first day alone, over 1,550 applicants, more than half of the target, applied. At this rate, early closure before the 27th is expected.

Foreigners wishing to receive vaccination can visit the Gwangsan District Public Health Center in person with a passport (showing the date of entry) or other documents verifying a stay of over 90 days to apply.

Gwangsan District plans to begin vaccinations in September once the issuance of management numbers and identification of eligible individuals are completed. The district will also consider expanding the number of vaccinations depending on future vaccine supply.

Meanwhile, to increase vaccination rates among foreign residents, Gwangsan District operates ‘foreign-friendly vaccination consignment medical institutions’ that provide vaccinations during weekday evenings and weekends.

Additionally, the district is intensively promoting vaccination in cooperation with foreign honorary community leaders and foreign resident volunteer groups, providing interpreter volunteers at medical institutions, and supporting translated pre-screening questionnaires and informational materials in foreign languages.