"Unable to Receive Even the First Dose Due to Side Effects... Why Is There Such a Focus on Expanding the Vaccine Pass?" 청원 to the Blue House

A petition demanding the withdrawal of the policy to expand the vaccine pass has been posted.
[Photo by Cheongwadae National Petition Board]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] A petitioner who identified themselves as a high school student raised their voice in strong opposition to the expansion of the vaccine pass (proof of vaccination or negative test) to the adolescent group, pointing out concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine.

On the 26th, a petition titled "Strongly Oppose the Vaccine Pass Once Again" was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. The petitioner stated that they are a high school student born in 2004 residing in Suseong-gu, Daegu, writing, "There was a previous petition opposing the vaccine pass which I supported, but it was regrettable that it closed without reaching 200,000 signatures. Therefore, I strongly demand the withdrawal of the policy to expand the vaccine pass once again."

The petitioner explained, "I have not viewed the introduction of the vaccine pass with much favor since the implementation of With Corona (gradual return to daily life). Personally, I have not even received the first dose of the vaccine due to anxiety about side effects, so I do not understand why there is such a frenzy to expand the vaccine pass."

They wrote, "The reason I oppose the vaccine pass is because there are many breakthrough infections," adding, "Even after vaccination, there have been serious outbreaks of breakthrough infections in places like the Yeoncheon Army Base and the Cheonghae Unit, so one cannot feel safe just because they have been vaccinated." They continued, "There are people who suffered side effects after the first and second doses and barely recovered," and questioned, "Is it proper K-quarantine to treat those who completed two doses as unvaccinated after six months?"

On the 28th, Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport as the government banned entry from eight African countries to prevent the domestic influx of the COVID-19 variant 'Omicron' spreading across South Africa.

The petitioner stated, "I think it would be better to devote efforts to developing safer and verified vaccines and treatments," and insisted, "Personally, I have no intention of painfully receiving this risky vaccine until a safer and verified vaccine is available." They also criticized, "I hope the vaccine pass or quarantine pass will be stopped now."

Previously, the COVID-19 Vaccination Damage Investigation Committee recognized causality in 509 cases out of a total of 3,658 cases (1,003 deaths, 1,240 severe cases, 1,415 anaphylaxis cases) reviewed over 39 meetings. The causality recognition rate is 13.9%.

Meanwhile, as the number of domestic COVID-19 confirmed cases fluctuates at record highs and the spread intensifies, concerns about the risk of the variant virus "Omicron," which emerged in Africa, are growing. Although no Omicron infections have been reported domestically yet, many believe that complete reassurance is not possible. Accordingly, the government implemented entry restrictions starting from midnight on the 28th for foreigners arriving from eight African countries including South Africa and Zimbabwe, and announced that Koreans will also be quarantined for 10 days regardless of vaccination status.

Additionally, the Central Disease Control Headquarters explained that they plan to conduct more precise monitoring of the overseas occurrence and domestic inflow of Omicron. They also added that they will develop a variant PCR test method through genetic analysis of the Omicron S protein and distribute it to entrusted medical institutions. Since the Omicron variant requires whole genome or target genome analysis, the plan is to add Omicron to the existing PCR test method so that a total of five variants can be diagnosed by PCR testing.