[KoK! Health] If You Were Born in the Year of the Dog '58... Don't Forget Free Pneumonia Vaccine Shots

Support for Influenza and Pneumonia Vaccinations for Seniors Aged 65 and Over
National Support Only for 23-Valent Vaccine Vaccinations

Free pneumococcal vaccinations are being administered at public health centers. (Photo by Damyang-gun)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] The government provides a free National Immunization Program (NIP) to prevent infectious diseases. However, these benefits are not available to the entire population but are limited to certain age groups. Most vaccinations are focused on infants and young children, but there are also free vaccinations available for the elderly.

Specifically, free vaccinations for influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcal) vaccines are available. As people age, their immune systems weaken, and those aged 65 and older are classified as a "high-risk group," making them eligible for free vaccinations starting at this age. Notably, starting this year, people born in 1958, known as the "58-year dog" baby boom generation, are included, which is expected to significantly increase the number of vaccine recipients. Among the two vaccines, the influenza vaccine is seasonal, but the pneumococcal vaccine is available year-round, so if you become eligible after the new year, it is best to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Pneumonia is a disease with a high mortality rate, to the extent that there is a saying, "patients admitted for other illnesses often end up dying from pneumonia." It ranks as the third leading cause of death in South Korea and the number one cause of death from respiratory diseases. The most common cause of pneumonia is Streptococcus pneumoniae. It is known that about 27-44% of bacterial pneumonia cases are caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Moreover, infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae can lead to complications such as bacteremia and meningitis. In elderly patients, acute respiratory symptoms may not appear clearly in the early stages, which can delay diagnosis and increase fatality if treatment is delayed. Even if you consider yourself healthy, if you are 65 or older, it is advisable to receive the pneumococcal vaccine.

MSD's pneumococcal vaccine 'Prodiac23' (left) and Pfizer's pneumococcal vaccine 'Prevnar13' (Photo by MSD Korea, Pfizer Korea)

Currently, two pneumococcal vaccines are approved in South Korea: MSD (Merck, USA)'s 23-valent vaccine "ProDiax23" and Pfizer's 13-valent vaccine "Prevnar13." The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases recommends either sequential administration of one dose each of the 13-valent and 23-valent vaccines or a single dose of the 23-valent vaccine.

Among these, only the 23-valent vaccine is covered under the NIP for free vaccination. Elderly individuals aged 65 and older can receive one free dose, and if vaccinated before age 65, they can receive another dose five years later.

Additionally, even those under 65 with chronic conditions such as diabetes, smoking, chronic lung disease, or heart disease are considered high-risk for pneumococcal infection and may have reduced antibody production. Therefore, the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases recommends sequential vaccination with one dose each of the 13-valent and 23-valent vaccines at intervals of at least one year. In fact, compared to healthy adults, those with chronic lung disease have an 8-fold, chronic heart disease a 4-fold, and diabetes patients a 3-fold higher risk of developing pneumonia.

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