COVID-19 vaccinations have already commenced in some parts of North Korea, beginning with places with many suspected cases, Daily NK has learned.
This development comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un mentioned vaccinations during a recent policy speech to the Supreme People’s Assembly.
A source in North Pyongan Province told Daily NK last Thursday that the authorities commenced the first round of COVID-19 vaccinations for residents of Sinuiju in mid-August.
Adults, as well as children over the age of three and the elderly, reportedly received the shots.
According to the source, North Korean authorities did not tell Sinuiju residents that the vaccines were for COVID-19, explaining instead that the shots “prevent the flu and fevers.”
However, with the authorities explaining that residents would receive a first round of shots through the end of August and a second round one month later, people know — or at least believe — they are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations.
The vaccination vials have no particular labels, but rumors — emanating from the health officials administering the shots — are circulating that the vaccines are made in China.
Daily NK sources in other regions also said vaccinations for ordinary people have started.
According to a source in Pyongyang, a first round of vaccinations began early this month at government institutions, enterprises, schools and elsewhere. In the case of schools, vaccinations reportedly began the day after classes started on Sept. 1.
In Pyongyang as well, the authorities avoided officially disclosing that the vaccines were for COVID-19. Instead, they simply said they were shots to prevent a flu that originated abroad.
North Korea also commenced vaccinations early last month in the port of Nampo, the city currently conducting the most material trade with China.
It seems Nampo was included in the list of priority regions for vaccination due to a recent continuous upswing in fever cases.
In fact, Daily NK determined that the number of people suffering symptoms similar to COVID-19 has recently skyrocketed in the city, particularly among young children and adolescents.
Alarmed at the situation, the authorities divided students in Nampo into a morning class and an afternoon class and instructed them to attend school in shifts, starting from the first day of class on Sept. 1.
The source said that in this circumstance, Nampo selected schools as a priority vaccination target.
In a policy speech to the Supreme People’s Assembly on Sept. 8, Kim Jong Un said, “Recently, the World Health Organization and public health institutions of different countries have been warning that it is needed to get thoroughly prepared to cope with dangerous influenza as well as the spread of COVID-19 this winter.
“And our epidemic prevention experts are of the opinion that the antibody titre which was formed among our people as they suffered from the malignant epidemic last May and June would fall around October,” he added.
Publicly mentioning vaccinations, he said, “Therefore, while administering vaccination in a responsible way, we should recommend that all residents wear masks for the protection of their own health from November.”
With vaccinations already underway in cities with plenty of contact with China, along with Pyongyang, vaccinations are expected to commence soon in other regions as well, including Yanggang Province, the Hamgyong provinces and Kangwon Province.
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