Paju-si Offers Year-Round Free Pneumococcal Vaccinations for Citizens Aged 65 and Over

Preventing Deadly Pneumonia in Older Adults
Vaccinations Available at Designated Medical Institutions Nationwide

Paju-si in Gyeonggi Province announced on February 11 that it is providing year-round free pneumococcal vaccinations for citizens aged 65 and over to support healthy aging and prevent infectious diseases among the elderly.

Paju City offers year-round free pneumococcal vaccinations for citizens aged 65 and older. Provided by Paju City

Pneumococcus poses a high risk of progressing to invasive infections such as pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis in older adults with weakened immune systems. In particular, the mortality rate for bacteremia is about 60%, and for meningitis it can reach up to 80%, which underscores the importance of vaccination. In addition, many influenza cases worsen into pneumonia, making preemptive prevention especially crucial.

Those eligible for free vaccination are citizens aged 65 and over who were born on or before December 31, 1961, and have never received the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). For those who were vaccinated before turning 65, one additional dose is allowed 5 years after the previous vaccination date.

Even if a person born in 1961 has not yet had their birthday this year according to the resident registration record, they are still eligible for free vaccination, and they can be vaccinated without any additional paperwork by simply presenting an ID card.

Eligible individuals can receive the vaccination at any nearby designated medical institution or public health center anywhere in the country, regardless of their registered address.

Hospitals and clinics that offer the vaccination can be found by visiting the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s “Immunization Helper” website and checking the “Find Designated Medical Institutions by Region” section. By contacting a designated medical institution, individuals can go through a simple verification process to confirm whether they can receive the vaccination.

Lee Hansang, Director of the Paju Public Health Center, said, “Pneumococcal vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect the lives of older adults,” and urged, “We strongly encourage all eligible citizens to visit a nearby medical institution and get vaccinated.”

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