Seo-gu, Gwangju Launches Shingles Vaccination Support for Seniors

About 3,000 recipients of basic living subsidies aged 65 and older eligible

Gwangju Seo-gu Office Building Exterior

Seo-gu District in Gwangju Metropolitan City will launch the 'Shingles Vaccination Support Program' starting March 16, in order to protect the health of older adults at high risk of developing shingles.

Shingles is a disease with a lifetime cumulative incidence rate of 10% to 30%, and the risk increases with age. In particular, those aged 65 and older have an incidence rate 8 to 10 times higher than younger age groups and may experience various complications, making vaccination especially important.

Accordingly, Seo-gu is implementing this support program to protect the health of vulnerable groups who face difficulties receiving vaccinations due to the financial burden and to prevent disease. The program targets approximately 3,000 recipients of basic living subsidies who are 65 or older, have their resident registration in Seo-gu as of the vaccination date, and have lived there for at least one year.

Notably, this year, in addition to the existing free live vaccine vaccinations, partial support for the cost of the recombinant vaccine (inactivated vaccine) will be newly introduced. As a result, individuals who are immunocompromised and thus unable to receive the live vaccine will also be able to get vaccinated, expanding the available vaccine options.

The live vaccine will be provided as a single free dose, while for the inactivated vaccine, support of 100,000 won will be provided for one out of the total two doses. Vaccinations will be administered at designated medical institutions within the district, and the vaccination period will continue from March 16 until the supply of vaccines is exhausted. Information about designated medical institutions can be found on the Seo-gu Public Health Center website or by contacting the Infectious Disease Management Division.

Lee Wongu, Head of Seo-gu Public Health Center, stated, "Shingles is a disease that causes significant pain for older adults, but it can be sufficiently prevented with vaccination," adding, "We will support vulnerable seniors so that they can receive vaccinations without financial burden, helping them enjoy a healthy life in old age."

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