Yeongyang-gun Offers Free Shingles Vaccination for Residents Aged 70 and Over

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongbuk, will provide free shingles vaccinations for residents aged 70 and older starting from the 13th.

Yeongyang-gun Public Health Center.

The eligible individuals are residents aged 70 and above who have lived in the area for more than one year, and vulnerable groups aged 65 and older (basic livelihood security recipients) who have no history of previous shingles vaccination. They can receive the vaccination by visiting Yeongyang Hospital with their ID and resident registration certificate.

Until now, shingles vaccination has been a significant financial burden for elderly and low-income residents due to its high cost of about 200,000 KRW.

Accordingly, as a pledge project of the 8th local government administration, the county made prior preparations such as revising ordinances last year to fully support the cost of shingles vaccination with county funds, and has implemented free shingles vaccination for those aged 70 and above to ensure a healthy old age for seniors.

Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella virus lying dormant in the body, which manifests as vesicular rash, severe pain, and sensory abnormalities when immunity declines. Repeated occurrences can invade the nervous system, lungs, and liver, making the aftereffects potentially fatal.

Jang Yeo-jin, director of Yeongyang-gun Public Health Center, said, “By receiving the shingles vaccination, seniors’ immunity will improve, and the onset and complications can be prevented, which is expected to help guarantee a healthy life for the elderly and alleviate their economic burden.”

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