"Complaints of Abdominal Pain and Body Aches"... Consecutive Cases of Vaccinations Administered Past the 'Expiration Date'

Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] "Even if I want to get vaccinated, I'm scared. I'm already worried about side effects..."

As cases of COVID-19 vaccine misadministration have recently occurred one after another in medical settings, public anxiety is growing. Some voices are also rising, demanding proper vaccine management.

First, there have been consecutive cases of vaccinations with expired vaccines. On the 2nd, it was revealed that a hospital in Busan administered Pfizer vaccines past their expiration date to a total of 8 people. This hospital administered Pfizer vaccines, which were supposed to be used by the 27th of last month, to 4 people each on the 28th and 30th of last month.

Among those vaccinated with this vaccine were one person in their 70s, two in their 50s, four in their 30s, and one in their 20s. Two of them reported symptoms such as abdominal pain and body aches.

Similar incidents occurred in Ulsan and Daegu. Daegu City announced on the 3rd that on the 26th of last month, a hospital in Suseong-gu administered expired Pfizer vaccines to 7 people.

In particular, in Ulsan, it was revealed that as many as 91 people at a general hospital received expired Pfizer vaccines, causing controversy. The expiration date of the vaccines they received was until the 25th of last month, but it was found that some people were vaccinated with the vaccine even until the 2nd.

Additionally, there was a case at a university hospital in Seoul where COVID-19 vaccines past the recommended administration period were given. According to health authorities on the 4th, about 140 people at Korea University Guro Hospital in Seoul were confirmed to have received Pfizer vaccines past the recommended administration period after thawing between the 26th and 27th of last month.

The Guro-gu Public Health Center also sent a text message stating, "Vaccines with expiration dates of August 20 or 26 were administered on August 26 and 27," and explained, "The hospital became aware of this on the 3rd and reported it by phone to the health center at 5 p.m." Ultimately, the hospital used vaccines that had been refrigerated beyond the maximum storage period of one week for vaccination.

The hospital stated, "There are no safety concerns, but there is a worry that sufficient immunity may not be developed, so the Disease Control Agency's expert review committee will decide whether to re-administer the vaccine."

Pfizer vaccines are stored in an ultra-low temperature freezer at the COVID-19 vaccination center set up in Mapo-gu Community Center, Seoul. Not directly related to the article. Photo by Yonhap News.

As cases of vaccine misadministration continue to occur, netizens are expressing their anxiety. One netizen said, "Many people suffer from side effects even with normal vaccines, but expired vaccines? This is a matter directly related to life, yet they are taking it too lightly," expressing concern.

Another netizen pointed out, "Side effects from vaccines are already scary enough, and now I'm even more afraid to get vaccinated. Shouldn't management be done properly?"

Others responded with comments such as, "They say there are no safety issues, but I'm very uneasy," and "I know medical staff are working hard, but please pay a little more attention."

Meanwhile, quarantine authorities urged all vaccination institutions to strictly check expiration dates before administering vaccines. Kwon Geun-yong, head of the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Implementation Management Team, said, "Guidelines for medical institutions or vaccination centers to prevent misadministration instruct them to always check the expiration date printed on the vial before vaccination."

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