Review of 1,397 Cases of Adverse Reactions to COVID-19 Vaccines... 197 Cases Compensated

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] The government has decided on new compensation for 196 individuals who experienced adverse reactions after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 3rd, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Expert Committee (Compensation Committee) held the 22nd Compensation Committee meeting on the 29th of last month and recognized causality between vaccination and adverse events in 196 cases (14.0%) out of 1,397 newly reported adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination.

The Compensation Committee, composed of 15 experts including clinicians, forensic scientists, and infectious disease specialists, stated that they comprehensively reviewed medical records, epidemiological investigations, underlying diseases, medical history, and clinical progression of adverse reactions after vaccination.

However, cases were dismissed if they involved ▲general weakness starting with fever 11 or 13 days after vaccination and lasting more than a month ▲complications such as gallstones or heart failure unrelated to underlying diseases or the vaccine ▲infections caused by factors other than the vaccine, such as urinary tract infections, upper respiratory infections, or colitis.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine injury compensation applications reached 90,923, of which 82.7% (75,237 cases) have been reviewed. Among these, 29.2% (21,960 cases), including 16 deaths, were approved for compensation. Of the small medical expense claims under 300,000 KRW based on out-of-pocket costs, 14,303 cases were reviewed promptly by local governments such as city and provincial offices, resulting in compensation for 5,368 cases.

Additionally, 857 individuals are eligible for medical expense support for suspected related diseases, and 8 individuals are eligible for death condolence payments. For 47 individuals eligible for condolence payments due to undetermined cause of death after autopsy, individual guidance is being provided through the respective local governments, with payments completed for 39 individuals.

Meanwhile, after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, it is advised to remain at the vaccination site for 15 to 30 minutes to monitor for adverse events and to carefully observe for at least 3 hours. In particular, if severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis occur, immediate contact with emergency services at 119 or visiting the nearest emergency room is necessary.