[단독]“It was okay except for the pain” Vaccination machine of a Korean family in Israel

The family of Lee Kang-geun (55), who has been living in Israel for more than 20 years, has completed the first dose of the Corona 19 vaccine this month. Starting with Mr. Lee on the 14th, his son Heon-jae (21) on the 17th, his wife Lee Young-ran (49) on the 19th, and the last daughter Yoo-jeong (19) on the 20th received the Pfizer vaccine.

Lee Kang-geun, living in Israel for 20 years
1st vaccination for recent couple and 2 children
“Working right after vaccination of soldiers son and daughter”

Israel ranks first in the world for vaccination rates
Fast vaccine acquisition, well-equipped medical system
The secret of a unique sense of community’three beats’

Lee said in a telephone interview with JoongAng Ilbo on the 25th, “After vaccination, all of my family are in good shape. Next month, everyone will have a second dose.” The Lee couple were subject to vaccination based on their age, and sons and daughters who were soldiers were also subject to vaccination. In Israel, which has a conscription system like Korea, both men and women are obligated to serve.

Lee Kang-geun living in Israel and his wife, Lee Young-ran, are smiling wide with a sticker that they received after the first dose of the Corona 19 vaccine. Kang-geun Lee carries a sticker on her wallet. [사진 이강근씨]

The fact that the whole family has already been vaccinated is that the rate of vaccination in Israel is the fastest in the world.

According to Hour World Inn data, as of the 25th, Israel is the world’s No. 1 country with a 30.77% vaccination rate per population. Of the total population of about 8.6 million, 2.6 million completed the first vaccination, of which about 1.2 million, even the second vaccination. The target age for vaccination, which started at 60 years of age or older on the 20th of last month, is now down to 40. Vaccinations have also begun for teenagers aged 16 to 18, before college entrance exams.

The Israeli government’s goal is to end all national vaccinations by the end of March. Accordingly, it is expected to become the first country in the world to declare’collective immunity’.

Kang-geun Lee is receiving a vaccine against Corona 19 in Israel on the 14th. [사진 이강근씨]

In Israel, vaccination is not a mandatory option. However, it is evaluated that the’three beats’ of the government’s fast vaccine securing, a well-equipped medical system, and a strong sense of community among the people showed high vaccination rates.

Lee Kang-geun also explained the reason why he started vaccination, “this is the only way to return to my daily life after defeating Corona 19, so that I will not get infected and others will not be infected by me.” “Before the vaccination, I told my wife and children that I was nervous about getting the vaccination in peace,” he said. “Thanks to that, I was proud to say that the whole family was comfortable.”

He also sent a video taken at the time of vaccination to the JoongAng Ilbo to help the Korean people, who are scheduled to begin vaccination next month.

Mr. Lee is working as the director and pastor of the Jerusalem Institute for Confucian Studies. In 2007, he received a doctorate in political science from the prestigious Hebrew University of Israel. He served as the Korean President of Israel (2011-2014), and visited Korea as an official attendant when Israeli President Reuben Riblin visited Korea in 2019.

Next is one question and one answer with Lee Kang-geun.

Why is the speed of vaccination so fast in Israel?

First of all, there is a patient-centered medical system. In Israel, you can choose one of the four health management organizations (HMOs) to purchase National Health Insurance. It is possible to change to another institution in the middle. As if choosing your own bank. Members will be treated at hospitals connected to each institution. As institutions compete to attract customers, the quality of medical services naturally increases. Quick, friendly. The same goes for the COVID-19 vaccination. In our neighborhood alone, there are vaccination centers operated by each of these four institutions. The whole process is convenient from the vaccination reservation. In addition, Israel’s military-oriented culture had a great influence. In Israel, both men and women 18 years of age and older have experience in military service to the extent that a neighbor’s grandmother tells the story of “when I am in the parachute”. Even after discharge, the reserve forces receive intense training. So, even though vaccination is not compulsory, I have a strong idea to participate in national campaigns. A sense of community rooted in the kibbutz (life community) also seems to have worked.

How did you go through vaccination?

The health care agency sent me a text message telling me that I was the target (over 55 years old). The institution’s application selected the desired inoculation site, date and time. From two days before the reservation day, an automated response system (ARS) phone called to remind you of the reservation schedule and check whether there is any change. On the morning of the day, the staff called directly to check if they were on time for the reservation. If there is someone who can’t come at that time, he wants to give someone a chance. The vaccination hospital was a 5-minute drive from the house. I arrived 20 minutes earlier than the scheduled time, but I entered the inoculation room without waiting less than 10 minutes. It took three to four minutes to get the vaccine after listening to the caution. It is said that the system was set up so that one doctor would inoculate one person for a maximum of 7 minutes. After vaccination, I had to stay in the hospital for about 15 minutes to monitor side effects.

Lee Kang-geun’s wife, Lee Young-ran, is getting a Pfizer vaccine on the 19th. [사진 이강근씨]

Are there any side effects after vaccination?

I had no symptoms other than a little pain at the vaccination site as when I had the flu vaccine. Soldiers, sons and daughters, were said to have no symptoms enough to return to military service soon after vaccination. However, my wife felt chills 5 minutes after the vaccination and had a heart pounding symptom. His blood pressure also rose temporarily. After the medical staff came and looked at it, he explained that chills are temporary side effects caused by the immune response from vaccination, and that the rest of the symptoms are caused by tension. In fact, all symptoms returned to normal after 10 to 15 minutes, and it was okay.

The reason I was vaccinated voluntarily?

I thought it was the only way to overcome Corona 19 and return to my daily life. I wanted to protect myself and others from infection. Attach the authentication sticker received after the first vaccination to the wallet and carry it. I want others to see it and feel relieved. The sticker says: ‘I got the Corona 19 vaccine. For the health of all’.

It is not common worldwide that the whole family has already been vaccinated.

Thank you. Military sons and daughters were the first candidates for vaccination, but vaccination was also an option not mandatory. The children called me to ask what my symptoms were after the vaccination and asked for advice on what to do. My wife was also anxious when she saw the news that there were side effects. Reassured the family and encouraged vaccination. The children were proud to say, “Thanks to my dad, I was inoculated with a comfortable mind.”

Lee Kang-geun’s sons Heon Jae (left) and Yoo Jung. Two men in military service also received the Corona 19 vaccine. [사진 이강근씨]

When is the second vaccination?

I am the 4th of next month. Two weeks after vaccination, you will receive a’green passport’ from the country. Holders of this passport are exempt from self-isolation after visiting overseas, and are free to visit various cultural events, sports, and use of restaurants. I have visited Korea several times a year for work at the University Research Institute, but I have not been there for the past year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Although vaccination is fast in Israel, there are many confirmed cases. There were over 8,000 people on the 25th.

The third containment period was extended until the end of this month. About half of the stores in the shopping mall were empty. There are about 700 Koreans living in Israel. Among the Koreans, there are a lot of people who are engaged in the travel industry, such as pilgrimage to the holy places, but the blow is big. Some international students return to Korea and replace them with online classes. However, the vaccination took place at a rapid pace and the mood changed. There is a saying among international students that if the vaccination target is expanded to international students, I will return to Israel and get hit. In addition, research results indicating that the infection rate has decreased or antibodies have been generated after vaccination are coming out one after another, and there is expectation that the vaccination will be effective in the near future.

Does the situation of quarantine or vaccination affect government support?

As there were many confirmed cases, it was evaluated as’the government that failed to quarantine’. But when vaccination began, the situation reversed. The government mobilized Mossad to secure the vaccine early, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke 17 times with Pfizer’s Chief Executive Officer Albert Bola (CEO). The Prime Minister received the vaccine before the people and encouraged the vaccination. Inside Israel, there is a positive evaluation saying,’The government did its best to secure and inoculate the vaccine.’ There are also observations that this situation could be advantageous to Prime Minister Netanyahu in the March general election.

Korea is also scheduled to start vaccinating against Corona 19 next month.

The COVID-19 vaccine is the only way to fight and win COVID-19. After the vaccination, I also recommended the vaccination to my wife and two children. First of all, I would like to recommend that anyone who is eligible for vaccination should get the vaccine with confidence.

Reporter Lim Sun-young [email protected]

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