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By Jun Ji-hye
Kim Won-kyeong, the mother of a 13-month-old girl and a four-year-old boy, felt confused when she got a text message from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Wednesday, which stated that the government will provide COVID-19 vaccinations for infants and toddlers from six months to four years beginning Feb. 13.
In the message sent to all parents who have children in that age group across the country, the KDCA said that inoculation would be necessary to prevent infections and that it would be the best means to prevent virus patients from falling into a serious condition.
Kim said the message caused her great concern. She could not be 100 percent sure about the safety of vaccines for young children.
"The vaccines have been developed only recently, so I cannot trust their safety. Plus, I have already seen some people around me suffer from side effects after vaccinations," Kim said in an interview. "I do not want my children to be vaccinated yet."
Park Sae-bom, the mother of a 13-month-old boy, also said possible side effects are the biggest concern.
"There have been many cases involving COVID-19 vaccine side effects even for adults, and many of these cases have remained unsolved," she said. "Authorities say vaccines 'should' be safe for young children, instead of 'will' be safe. I don't think the safety of vaccines has been fully guaranteed."
Many similar opinions are shown in online communities.
One mother wrote on a Naver blog, "It does not make sense as the government recommended vaccinations to babies after it lifted most mandatory indoor mask-wearing rules on Jan. 30."
Regarding those reactions, the KDCA said its text message was aimed at providing up-to-date information to parents, stressing that vaccinations for young children are not compulsory.
A KDCA official noted infants and toddlers carry a higher risk of serious conditions or death, once they are infected with the virus, than other children aged five or older.
"Health authorities still strongly advise infants and toddlers who are in a high-risk group to get vaccinated against COVID-19," he said.
This group includes those who are receiving treatments for cancer, those who have had organ transplants and those who are HIV-positive.
"Other general infants and toddlers can be vaccinated as well upon the decision of their parents," the official added.
According to the KDCA, infants and toddlers will get three doses of the Pfizer vaccine in intervals of eight weeks. The Pfizer vaccine for infants was introduced in Korea on Jan. 12.
The vaccines will be available at some 840 government-designated hospitals that are capable of treating young children if emergency situations arise.
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