"Risked Life for First Dose but Severe Side Effects"
Past Anaphylactic Shock from Another Vaccine... "White Blood Cells Lower than Normal"
Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Department of Respiratory Medicine at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital encouraged COVID-19 vaccination through government promotional materials in March last year. Photo by the Government of the Republic of Korea Twitter
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Controversy has arisen after it was revealed that a medical school professor who had encouraged COVID-19 vaccination in government promotional materials and multiple media interviews had not completed the vaccination. He explained that he only received the first dose due to health reasons.
Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Ewha Mokdong Hospital appeared on YTN's "News Live" on the 31st of last month and pointed out the fairness of the government's vaccination certificate and negative test confirmation system (quarantine pass), stating, "Actually, for health reasons, I only received the first dose. If a vaccine pass is required to enter places where daily necessities are purchased, I actually cannot enter."
He further confessed on YTN News on the 1st that he had experienced side effects from a previous vaccination. Professor Cheon said, "I was hospitalized after receiving a vaccine over 10 years ago. Since then, my white blood cell count has been lower than normal for nearly 10 years. So, I understand well the anxiety and side effects many people feel about vaccination."
He added, "However, I am a medical professional and also care for respiratory and COVID-19 patients, so after much consideration, I got the shot," and confessed, "(After vaccination) I felt quite unwell. Daily life was difficult, so I actually applied for sick leave, but since there were no medical staff, that was also difficult."
Professor Cheon's remarks have sparked significant controversy. Earlier, in a government promotional interview titled "Sympathy" in March last year, he had emphasized the importance of vaccination by saying, "Right now, more than anything, it is important to get vaccinated quickly and in large numbers. Government efforts are needed to reduce resistance to vaccination."
As the controversy grew, Professor Cheon explained that he could not complete the vaccination due to severe side effects after the first dose. In an interview with JoongAng Ilbo on the 3rd, he stated, "I had an anaphylaxis (severe systemic allergic reaction) shock after a previous vaccination," and added, "Still, I hesitated before getting the COVID-19 vaccine, but since I continuously meet respiratory patients including COVID-19 patients, I risked my life to get the first dose. However, the side effects were indeed severe."
He continued, "Everyone in my family except me?my husband and mother?have all been vaccinated up to the third dose," and said, "In my case, I could not get vaccinated due to unavoidable reasons, but it is regrettable that even when I say this myself, it is not viewed positively."
He also said, "After revealing in the YTN interview that I only had the first dose, I went through a lot of hardships. I was bombarded with all kinds of criticism, including being called a 'blindly loyal professor,'" and lamented, "They cut out the context and criticize me as if I refused vaccination because I didn't want to get vaccinated."
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