Flu Vaccination Rate Among Seniors Over 65 Reaches 45%: "Get Vaccinated Before Full-Scale Epidemic"

KDCA Reports 6.33 Million Vaccinated
Among Children, Pregnant Women, and Seniors Eligible for National Immunization Program

This year, the influenza (flu) epidemic alert was issued about two months earlier than last year. In response, health authorities have urged those eligible for the national vaccination program-including children, pregnant women, and the elderly-to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on October 27, as of October 24, the cumulative number of people vaccinated against the flu stood at 6.33 million. Among them, 4.85 million were seniors aged 65 or older, accounting for 44.6% of that age group, while 1.38 million were children aged 6 months to 13 years, representing 29.5% of that group.

Currently, the KDCA provides free flu vaccinations for children aged 6 months to 13 years, pregnant women, and seniors aged 65 or older. Vaccinations for children began on September 22, for pregnant women on September 29, and for seniors aged 65 or older on October 15, with simultaneous administration of COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

Flu vaccination is available at nearby designated medical institutions and public health centers, regardless of one’s registered address. Eligible individuals can check the list of available institutions on the Vaccination Helper website and visit for vaccination.

Previously, on October 17 at midnight, the KDCA issued a nationwide flu epidemic alert. This was because, during week 40 of this year (from September 28 to October 4), the number of suspected flu cases per 1,000 outpatients at 298 sample medical institutions reached 12.1, exceeding the epidemic threshold of 9.1 per 1,000.

However, during week 42 (October 12-18), the number of patients showing suspected flu symptoms temporarily dipped below the epidemic threshold, recording 7.9 cases per 1,000 outpatients.

The KDCA believes that this temporary slowdown in flu spread was largely due to school-aged children and adolescents, who had been driving the epidemic, staying home during the previous week’s Chuseok holiday, which naturally reduced face-to-face contact among people.

The KDCA also noted that with temperatures dropping sharply in recent days, and with the detection rate of the flu virus among patients with respiratory symptoms at 7.5% in week 42-which is not a low level-the number of flu patients is likely to gradually increase. At the time the epidemic alert was issued in week 40, the flu virus detection rate was 7.1%.

Im Seungkwan, Commissioner of the KDCA, stated, "The flu epidemic is starting earlier this year compared to last year," and urged, "Children, pregnant women, and seniors who have not yet been vaccinated should make sure to get vaccinated before the full-scale epidemic begins."

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