Anxiety Present... Nearly 15 Million People Receive Influenza Vaccination

On the 26th, when the government resumed free influenza vaccinations for seniors aged 62 to 69, citizens lined up in front of a hospital in Seoul to receive their flu shots. After restarting free vaccinations on September 25 for those aged 12 and under and pregnant women, on October 13 for those aged 13 to 18, and on the 19th for those aged 70 and above, this marks the final age group for the resumed vaccinations. Regarding the recent 48 deaths following flu vaccinations, the government announced on the 23rd that there is no correlation and that vaccinations will continue. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] It has been revealed that nearly 15 million people have received the influenza (flu) vaccine. Although concerns about the flu vaccine, which has been embroiled in a series of controversies such as exposure to room temperature, discovery of white particles, and deaths after vaccination, have not been completely resolved, vaccinations appear to be steadily ongoing.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on the 27th, a total of 14.68 million people had received the flu vaccine as of midnight the previous day. The cumulative number of flu vaccine recipients was 9.55 million on the 18th, 12.97 million on the 21st, and 14.27 million on the 23rd. Considering that 263,240 people aged 62 to 69 received free vaccinations by 1 p.m. on the first day of the program, which started the day before, the total number of vaccinated people is expected to reach 15 million.

With the national immunization program for children and adolescents under 18, pregnant women, and seniors aged 62 and older all underway, health authorities appealed for vaccinations, stating that "the causal relationship between vaccination and death is low."

The KDCA stated, "Among the 59 reported death cases as of the previous day, excluding 13 cases under investigation, all 46 cases have a very low causal relationship between death and vaccination, so it is not yet at a stage to consider suspension of vaccination." They added, "If more than two severe adverse reaction cases, including deaths that cannot exclude causality with vaccination, occur among recipients of the same batch number, re-examination or sealing (suspension of use) will be considered."

Following President Moon’s emphasis yesterday that "it is necessary to further expand flu vaccinations to prevent simultaneous infection and spread of influenza and COVID-19," Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo reinforced the health authorities’ epidemiological investigation announcement by stating, "Excessive fear cannot undermine safety."

Meanwhile, Minister Park is scheduled to receive a flu vaccine at a medical institution in Sejong City at 2 p.m. today. Born in 1956 and turning 64 this year, Minister Park is eligible for free vaccination for those aged 62 and older. As the government encourages vaccination, emphasizing that the benefits far outweigh the side effects, this move is interpreted as a direct effort to dispel related concerns surrounding the flu vaccine.

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