South Korea began free state-funded influenza vaccinations for children and pregnant women on the 21st, as an earlier-than-usual flu season continues. Suspected flu cases have climbed to 4.6 times the level of the same period last year, with the outbreak concentrated among children and adolescents.
Children aged 6 months to 14 years and pregnant women can receive flu shots at designated medical institutions and public health centers nationwide starting the 21st, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said on the 21st. The agency moved up the vaccination schedule for children and older adults from its original plan, citing the earlier onset of this year's flu season.
Eligible children are those born between Jan. 1, 2012, and Aug. 31, 2026. All can begin vaccination from the 21st, regardless of how many doses they require.
For those 65 and older, the schedule is staggered by age. People 75 and older can be vaccinated from Oct. 6, those aged 70 to 74 from Oct. 12, and those aged 65 to 69 from Oct. 15. High-risk groups, including people with weakened immune systems, can be vaccinated from Oct. 6 regardless of age after consulting a doctor.
Vaccinations are available at any nearby designated medical institution or public health center, regardless of the recipient's registered address. Because the schedule has been revised once, people should check with the facility before visiting to confirm that shots are available. An identification document is also required to verify eligibility.
The flu is already spreading quickly. In surveillance data collected from about 800 clinic-level medical institutions, the share of suspected influenza cases in the 37th week of the year, Sept. 6 to 12, was 31.0 per 1,000 outpatients, the agency said. That is 4.6 times the 6.7 recorded in the same period last year.
By age group, children aged 7 to 12 had the highest rate at 79.6 per 1,000, followed by ages 1 to 6 at 55.2 and ages 13 to 18 at 39.8, indicating a relatively strong outbreak among children and adolescents.
The agency advised people to remain at the medical facility for 20 to 30 minutes after vaccination to monitor for adverse reactions before leaving.
