![On the 29th, U.S. military personnel at the Gunsan Air Force Base in Jeollabuk-do are receiving the first dose of a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine. [주한미군사령부 제공]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202012/29/d13dc679-245f-4514-809c-5e7ac1ffd0f7.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
On the 29th, U.S. military personnel at the Gunsan Air Force Base in Jeollabuk-do are receiving the first dose of a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) vaccine. [주한미군사령부 제공]
On the 29th, the USFK started vaccination against the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) for essential personnel, including medical staff working at the US military base. However, the vaccinations for Koreans, such as KATUSA Soldiers and nurses employed by the US military, have decided to withhold.
US military side “Excluding vaccination for Koreans at the request of the Korean government”
Government “Ask to wait for in-government vaccination review process”
A USFK official said, “We started vaccination on the 29th, but at the request of the Korean government, Koreans working at the US military base did not get the vaccination.” “After consultation with the Korean government, we plan to start vaccination.”
In this regard, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said, “It was not requested to exclude vaccinations for Koreans, but requested to wait for the government’s internal review procedure for vaccinations to all Koreans in the USFK, including KATUSA Soldiers.” An official from the Ministry of Defense also said, “The mode or vaccine has not yet been approved for emergency use, so we are in discussions between the ROK and US authorities.”
The U.S. Department of Defense sent modena vaccines to four foreign countries stationed by the U.S. military, including Korea. It was also distributed to USFK medical facilities, and the vaccination started on that day. As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the emergency use of the modder vaccine, the US Department of Defense began distributing the modder vaccine to US military overseas last week. Accordingly, vaccination is currently in progress at major overseas US military bases.
![On the 28th, U.S. Army hospital staff received and confirmed the Corona 19 vaccine at the Osan Air Force Base of the U.S. Forces in Korea. Initial vaccination targets are essential personnel such as medical staff and support personnel. [미 공군 제공]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202012/29/f46f9323-38af-4541-82d9-134c439f3c84.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
On the 28th, U.S. Army hospital staff received and confirmed the Corona 19 vaccine at the Osan Air Force Base of the U.S. Forces in Korea. Initial vaccination targets are essential personnel such as medical staff and support personnel. [미 공군 제공]
On the other hand, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety have not yet granted approval for emergency use of modders or vaccines. Accordingly, the government and the USFK plan to start vaccination after consultation with related agencies on vaccination.
The initial volume of the USFK vaccine, which arrived on the 25th, can be inoculated to 500 people in about 1,000 doses. The initial volume is small, so the first vaccination targets, such as medical staff, are given.
According to the USFK, Korean medical staff and hospital workers, such as KATUSA Soldiers and nurses employed by the US Army, are in principle included in the vaccination targets of USFK. Accordingly, last week, they also received an application for vaccination. Because of this, observations have been raised that the first Korean inoculation will be released from the US military base.
USFK Commander Robert Abrams, who received the vaccine that day, said, “It is up to the individual to decide whether or not to be vaccinated, but (moder or vaccine) has passed all clinical trials and approved by the US government.
Reporter Park Yonghan [email protected]