Authorities in talks about KATUSA troops getting USFK's COVID-19 vaccine
Attack helicopters are parked inside the U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Korea Times file
Defense ministry officials said Saturday they talks were taking place over whether members of the Korean Augmentation to the U.S. Army (KATUSA) will receive vaccinations against COVID-19 alongside U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) personnel.
A cargo plane carrying Moderna's vaccine arrived in South Korea from Memphis, Friday, the first shipment set to be administered to American service members here. It was delivered to Allgood Army Community Hospital inside Camp Humphreys, the U.S. military headquarters in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul.
The arrival of vaccines has raised the possibility that KATUSAs could also receive inoculations.
Forty KATUSAs work inside the Allgood Army Community Hospital, according to a ministry official, who confirmed talks about the potential vaccination were ongoing.
"But we have yet to receive a formal request (from the USFK) regarding the matter," he added.
If they are vaccinated the soldiers will be the first Koreans to get shots in the country, where concern has been mounting over the government's belated moves to secure COVID-19 vaccines for the people.
The USFK has reportedly contacted the Army for information related to the KATUSA program in relation to the vaccination, an informed source said.
Currently, there are more than 3,000 KATUSAs working at U.S. military installations. (Yonhap)