[Health Tip] Flu Still Widespread... Get Vaccinated Early for a Safe Winter

Although the influenza (flu) outbreak has temporarily slowed down over the past week, the number of infections remains twice as high as in previous years. Health authorities recommend that those eligible for the national flu vaccination program actively participate in vaccination, as the flu is likely to spread further when the weather gets colder.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on the 14th, during the first week of this month (1st to 7th), the number of influenza-like illness (ILI) patients visiting 196 sentinel surveillance medical institutions nationwide was 14.6 per 1,000 outpatients. This is a decrease of 6.2 from the previous week (20.8).

The number of suspected flu patients had steadily increased for four consecutive weeks, reaching the level typically seen in December by the end of September. This decline is attributed to a decrease in cases among children and adolescents. The number of flu patients aged 7 to 12 dropped by 40%, from 53.8 to 32.1, and those aged 13 to 18 decreased by 29%, from 31.8 to 22.7.

The outbreak continues. Even though flu cases have decreased after five weeks, the current level is still 2.2 times higher than the 6.5 cases per 1,000 outpatients threshold that defines the 2023?2024 flu season. Additionally, since the flu typically spreads from late this month through early next year as the weather gets colder, the outbreak is expected to continue expanding for the time being.

Those eligible for the national flu vaccination program are advised to get vaccinated in advance to prevent infection. The national flu vaccination campaign began last month on the 20th, starting with children. Sequential vaccinations for pregnant women began on the 5th of this month, and for the elderly from the 11th. Eligible individuals can receive free vaccinations at primary medical institutions.

With COVID-19 vaccinations also starting on the 19th, the KDCA recommends simultaneous vaccination with the flu vaccine for high-risk groups. Overseas, simultaneous vaccination of COVID-19 and flu vaccines is also recommended for convenience and effective infection prevention.

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