Flu Vaccine Cost for Family of Four Nears 200,000 Won... Where Are Affordable Clinics?

Hospital Self-Pricing... Active Sharing of Price Information Online
Domestic Products 35,000-40,000 KRW, Imported Products 40,000-45,000 KRW

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gyehwa] Due to high inflation, more people are seeking to get their winter influenza (flu) vaccines at lower prices.

Flu vaccines are administered to about 40% of the entire population. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the annual flu vaccination rate steadily increased from 37.5% in 2017 to 40.0% in 2018, 41.9% in 2019, and 45.9% in 2020.

This year, a seasonal flu epidemic advisory, which had been quiet for two years following COVID-19, has already been issued. With the easing of social distancing measures, concerns about the spread of the flu have grown, prompting health authorities to actively recommend vaccinations for high-risk groups.

However, flu vaccines that are not part of the national immunization program must be paid for. The government provides free vaccinations only for children aged 6 months to 13 years, pregnant women, and seniors aged 65 and older.

Because of this, posts sharing information about clinics offering cheaper flu vaccines are frequently appearing online. Posts such as "How to find the cheapest flu vaccine in Paju City," "Cheap flu shots in Incheon and Gyeonggi," and "Are there any clinics nearby with cheap flu vaccines?" can often be seen on online communities.

Along with sharing vaccine price information, many people are calling clinics to inquire. This is because there is a significant difference in vaccine types and prices among clinics. For a family of four, the cost approaches 200,000 KRW. A review of flu vaccine prices at 10 internal medicine clinics in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, showed domestic vaccines priced between 35,000 and 40,000 KRW, while imported vaccines ranged from 40,000 to 45,000 KRW.

There are two reasons why prices vary by clinic. According to health authorities, flu vaccines are non-reimbursable items, so clinics independently set the costs for vaccination services. Since the government does not supply vaccines uniformly and clinics purchase directly from manufacturers, the government finds it difficult to intervene.

However, the varying flu vaccine prices by region and clinic are causing confusion among citizens. Kim, a woman in her 40s, heard that some people around her received flu vaccines for as low as 22,000 KRW or 26,000 KRW. She said, "I used a price-checking app to find clinics with cheap flu vaccines and called them, but they said they were all sold out," adding, "Even though it’s the same vaccine, prices vary greatly depending on the manufacturer and clinic." She also added, "Even if I try not to focus only on cost, a difference of over 10,000 KRW for just one person makes me feel like I’m wasting money."

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