Doctor's note not needed for requesting vaccination leave

Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters to apply the leave gradually from Apr. 1

From now on, ‘vaccination leave’ on request would be able for those receiving vaccination against COVID-19, even without a doctor’s not.

 

COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) discussed promoting the COVID-19 vaccination leave for adverse reaction as reported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) Central Disaster Management Headquarters (led by Minister Kwon Deok-Cheol) and Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL, Minister Kim Woo Ho).

 

The need of giving vaccination leave has been raised since there have been cases of workers interfered by post-vaccination fever and body ache.

 

According to the vaccination adverse reaction monitoring results, 32.8 percent of the vaccine receivers responded that they felt discomfort, while 2.7 percent of them visited healthcare institutions.

 

1.4 percent out of the total vaccine receivers reported to healthcare institutes through the adverse reaction monitoring system according to the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.

 

Surveying about 5,400 vaccine receivers from 20 randomly selected nursing hospitals, about 75 people (1.4 percent) requested to take a day off from the work.

 

Adverse reactions were usually expressed within 10 to 12 hours after vaccination and recovered within 48 hours.

 

Major adverse reactions were pain at the vaccinated spot (28.3 percent), muscle ache (25.4 percent), fatigue (23.8 percent), headache (21.3 percent).

 

and fever (18.1 percent).

 

Also, the younger the receiver was the higher the rate of discomfort complains was reported.

 

Based on the discussion with related government body and the survey result, the Central Disaster Management Headquarters prepared a plan to promote the use of vaccination leave, so the people would feel safe to get inoculated.

 

The vaccination leave is to be issued for the vaccine receivers, who requested for the leave due to an adverse reaction.

 

The leave request can be processed only with the receiver’s request and without a doctor’s note.

 

And regarding the day of inoculation and required time, the government recommended using an official vacation or paid vacation days.

 

Considering that the adverse reaction begins within 10 to 12 hours after vaccination, one day of vacation is given the day after the vaccination, and if there is an actual symptom of adverse reaction, an additional one day can be used.

 

On the day of vaccination, it is recommended and instructed to give leave for the time required for vaccination.

 

This is taking into account that general adverse reactions improve within two days, and one should visit a healthcare institute if the adverse reaction continues for 48 hours or more.

 

Vaccination leave would come in effect from coming Apr.

 

1, according to the previously established vaccination plan and schedule.

 

Inoculation of social welfare facility workers will begin from the first week of April, and social welfare facilities will take measures to utilize sick leave, paid leave, and work exclusions, depending on the conditions of each business and facility.

 

If the facility manager deems that it is necessary to exclude work, the business should grant a paid leave.

 

Moreover, the relevant industry organizations would assertively negotiate with healthcare institutes, such as nursing hospitals, where the vaccination is ongoing, to use the vaccination leave.

 

While the vaccinations for school nurses and essential social force like police, firefighters and military are scheduled from the first week of April and June, respectively, the vaccination leave would be applied based on the interpretation of the regulation by the Ministry of Personnel Management and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

 

The flight attendants, scheduled to receive vaccination in May, would also receive vaccination leave through the government’s negotiation with the airlines.

 

The government also plans to recommend and guide private enterprises to grant paid leave or utilize sick leave, if available, for the vaccination leave without losing the pay.

 

MOEL plans to disseminate guidelines for workplaces and actively guide them through Regional Employment and Labor Office.

 

And the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) is planning to call for request cooperation by various relevant organization and association like Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Korea Employers Federation.

 

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to actively guide and induce participation by related associations and organizations through regional offices and affiliated agencies.

 

In addition, the government plans to revise the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act to establish a legal basis stipulating the post-vaccination leave.