Hampyeong-gun Expands Free Influenza Vaccination Eligibility

Hampyeong-gun Public Health Center Exterior View

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 10th that it will expand the target groups for free influenza vaccinations in preparation for the simultaneous outbreak of COVID-19 and influenza.

This year's nationally supported free influenza vaccination targets are children aged 6 months to under 18 years, pregnant women, and seniors aged 62 and older.

The target groups have been significantly expanded from the previous free vaccination groups of children aged 6 months to under 12 years, pregnant women, and seniors aged 65 and older.

The supported vaccine has also been upgraded from the previous trivalent vaccine to the quadrivalent vaccine.

This year, the county will operate different vaccination schedules by target group and limit the maximum number of vaccinations per day at each vaccination institution.

This measure takes into account the nationwide spread of COVID-19 and government quarantine guidelines such as social distancing.

The first vaccination targets are those who require two doses, and vaccinations began on the 8th.

The two-dose targets are children aged 6 months to under 9 years who are receiving the influenza vaccination for the first time in their life or who have received only one dose before July 1 of this year.

They should receive the second dose within 4 weeks after the first dose.

From the 22nd, free vaccinations will be provided to one-dose targets (under 18 years) and pregnant women.

Seniors aged 62 and older can receive vaccinations starting from the 13th of next month.

Those wishing to receive free vaccinations can check the vaccination period by age on the Hampyeong-gun Office website or the Vaccination Helper site, and visit the nearest designated medical institution or public health center regardless of their address.

Additionally, from the 27th of next month, the county will conduct its own vaccination program for residents aged 19 to under 61 who are excluded from this year's national support through county health institutions (public health centers, health branches, and health clinics).

Among them, vulnerable groups such as basic livelihood security recipients, national merit recipients, and marriage immigrant women will receive free vaccinations, while other general residents can receive vaccinations for a fee (8,620 KRW).

A county official said, “Influenza vaccination takes effect two weeks after vaccination and lasts about six months on average, so timely vaccination is most important. Especially as COVID-19, which has symptoms similar to influenza, is resurging, we hope that those eligible for free vaccination will get vaccinated as much as possible and strictly adhere to the vaccination schedule by target group.”

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