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| Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, left, receives his first dose of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine at a public medical center in Jongno District, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap |
By Nam Hyun-woo
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and other ministers have gotten their shots of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine publicly, in what appear to be the government's efforts to ease public concerns on the vaccine's safety.
Chung visited a public medical center in Jongno District, Seoul, Friday, and received his first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine. Along with Chung, Health and Welfare Minister Kwon Deok-chul and Interior and Safety Minister Jeon Hae-cheol also got their jabs at the center, where President Moon Jae-in received his first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Tuesday.
"Vaccination is a matter of science, not politics," Chung said. "However, sometimes there are misunderstandings and groundless rumors, and we received shots to address that and it feels the same as getting a flu vaccine."
He added, "To have the public to get their vaccines as soon as possible and return to our normal days, the government will spare no efforts to expedite the country's vaccination program."
Chung's remarks came amid online rumors alleging that the syringe for Moon's vaccination had been swapped prior to injection and the President received a different vaccine or a saline solution due to safety concerns over AstraZeneca's product. Some even threatened the nurse who injected Moon and the government has requested a police investigation.
Chung said he is not well aware of "fake news" and complimented healthcare workers' skills to reduce pain during injection. Chung and other ministers received their vaccines by the same nurse who injected Moon.
"You get vaccinated for yourself, neighbors and your family," Chung said. "I want to reemphasize that vaccination is not about politics and the public should not be misled by those unnecessary remarks."
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