MFDS Grants First National Release Approval This Year for 878,000 Doses of Influenza Vaccine

(Data from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 2nd that it has granted national release approval for 878,000 doses of this year's first seasonal influenza vaccine.

National release approval is a system in which the government comprehensively evaluates the Ministry's inspection test results and the manufacturer's production and test data for each manufacturing unit of vaccines, botulinum toxin products, plasma fractionation products, etc., to verify the quality of the products once more before they are distributed in the market.

Considering that COVID-19 vaccines and influenza vaccines are administered around the same time this year, the Ministry plans to complete the release approval of all influenza vaccines by the end of October to ensure smooth supply during the concentrated vaccination period (October to November).

About 28 million doses of influenza vaccines are expected to receive national release approval this year. This is an increase of 3 million doses compared to the figure announced in June. Among these, approximately 14.6 million people, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly, are eligible for free vaccination under the national immunization program. Considering the target vaccination rates (80% for children aged 6 months to 13 years, 50% for pregnant women, and 85% for the elderly), it is expected that about 11.92 million of the eligible individuals will receive the vaccination.

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