Gwangju City to Provide Free Hepatitis A Vaccinations for High-Risk Groups Starting the 14th

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 13th that starting from the 14th, free hepatitis A vaccinations will be provided to high-risk groups with a high mortality rate due to complications from hepatitis A infection.

The hepatitis A vaccination will be administered twice at six-month intervals at public health centers and designated medical institutions. The target recipients are individuals in their 20s to 40s (born between 1999 and 1970) who have received treatment for chronic liver disease.

Before visiting, eligibility for vaccination can be checked on the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s Vaccination Helper website or at the local public health center.

However, for those in their 40s (born between 1970 and 1979) with a high antibody prevalence rate, antibody testing will be conducted starting from the 1st of next month, and vaccinations will be given only to those without antibodies.

Meanwhile, last year, an epidemiological investigation by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency revealed that the main cause of hepatitis A cases was salted clams, leading to a recommendation to stop consuming them, after which the incidence of hepatitis A steadily decreased.

Although the city has seen a significant reduction in hepatitis A cases, considering that cases still occur at previous levels, it urged residents to stop consuming salted clams whose safety has not been confirmed and to follow hepatitis A prevention guidelines such as thoroughly cooking shellfish to prevent and block the spread of hepatitis A.

Kim Kwang-eun, Director of the City Health Policy Division, said, “High-risk groups such as chronic liver disease patients must get vaccinated and avoid consuming salted clams whose safety has not been confirmed. We ask everyone to follow personal prevention measures such as cooking shellfish thoroughly and washing hands with running water.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.