"Don't Force Even Children"…Parents Opposing the 'Youth Quarantine Pass'

Government "Extending Quarantine Pass to Adolescents"...Parents' Anxiety
Experts "Quarantine Pass as a Protection Strategy for the Unvaccinated"

On the 5th, students are measuring their body temperature using an unmanned temperature measurement system before entering a study cafe in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] As the government announced that it will apply the 'Quarantine Pass' (vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system) to adolescents aged 12 to 18 starting February 1 next year, parents are expressing opposition to this.

On the 3rd, a post titled "Please do not force vaccines on children too!" was posted on the Blue House's public petition board.

The petitioner stated, "It is outrageous that academies were separated as subjects for the quarantine pass with the intention of increasing adolescent vaccination rates," and raised their voice, "Are academies places where masks are taken off to eat? Isn't the quarantine pass being applied to academies to increase adolescent vaccination rates?"

They also added, "Although the origin of the Omicron variant was religious facilities, religious facilities are not subject to the quarantine pass."

On the 3rd, a petition opposing the expansion of the 'vaccine pass' to adolescents was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition.

The petitioner questioned the government, saying, "Even after receiving the second vaccine dose, the number of breakthrough infection cases is considerable, so I am curious why the quarantine pass is being forcibly applied to children," and criticized, "Didn't they say schools are the safest? The safety is uncertain as it went through emergency approval, and trust is already at rock bottom due to the government's response that there is no causal relationship even if side effects occur."

Earlier, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 5th that the quarantine pass, which was limitedly applied to some high-risk facilities such as indoor sports facilities and karaoke rooms, will be expanded to multi-use facilities with high usage frequency such as restaurants, cafes, academies, and libraries. As infection cases rapidly increased mainly in schools and academies recently, the scope of quarantine pass exceptions was reduced, and adolescents born between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2009, were included as subjects.

However, to meet the government's deadline of "February 1 next year," vaccinations must be done within 1 to 2 weeks, and considering the current situation with middle and high school final exams approaching, there are criticisms that implementing the quarantine pass is inappropriate. On online parent communities and social networking services (SNS), criticisms continue such as "Even mild side effects like headaches and muscle pain can be fatal to students before exams, and this seems like a measure that does not consider the children's situation," "It is practically forcing vaccinations on children," and "A policy without consideration for those with underlying conditions."

Meanwhile, Professor Lee Jae-gap of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital posted on his Facebook on the 4th regarding the government's quarantine pass expansion policy, emphasizing, "The quarantine pass is a protection strategy for the unvaccinated," and "Vaccination is the answer."