Haman County Health Center Expands Free Influenza Vaccination Program

Support for Quadrivalent Vaccine Targeting Children, Pregnant Women, and Adolescents...

Haman Public Health Center exterior view. (Photo by Haman Public Health Center)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Hwang Choi Hyun-joo] The Public Health Center of Haman-gun, Gyeongnam, has been providing free flu vaccinations for children, pregnant women, and adolescents since the 8th.

This year, to prevent the spread of influenza, which has symptoms similar to those of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the vaccination program has been temporarily expanded to include adolescents aged 14 to 18 living in group settings and seniors aged 62 to 64. Additionally, the support has shifted from the existing trivalent vaccine to the quadrivalent vaccine.

The health center started on the 8th by prioritizing those who require two doses. The two-dose recipients are children aged 6 months to under 9 years who are receiving the influenza vaccine for the first time in their life or who have received only one dose before July 1. After the first dose, the second dose must be administered within 4 weeks.

Free vaccinations for other children, adolescents, and pregnant women will begin on the 22nd. Pregnant women, regardless of their gestational age, should bring documents such as a maternal health handbook that can verify their pregnancy when visiting vaccination institutions.

For seniors aged 75 and older, vaccinations will be available from October 13; for those aged 70 to 74, from October 20; and for those aged 62 and older, from October 27. The dates are staggered and vaccinations will be conducted sequentially at designated medical institutions and public health centers within the jurisdiction.

A health center official stated, “For safe and effective vaccination, we recommend that those eligible for national free support receive their vaccinations at local clinics or hospitals whenever possible,” and urged, “It is essential to get the influenza vaccination to prevent the simultaneous spread of COVID-19 and influenza.”

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