Children aged 6 months to 14 years and pregnant women can receive flu vaccines at local clinics and medical institutions nationwide. More children will be eligible for free flu shots this year, as the age limit was extended from 13 to 14.
For older adults, vaccinations will begin Oct. 12 for those aged 75 and above, followed by people aged 70 to 74 on Oct. 15 and those aged 65 to 69 on Oct. 19.
Those in high-risk groups including immunocompromised people can also receive flu shots starting Oct. 6 regardless of their age, after consulting medical professionals.
The early rollout of vaccinations comes amid a sharp increase in suspected flu cases in recent weeks.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), a survey of about 800 clinics and medical institutions found that 31 out of every 1,000 outpatients had flu-like symptoms in the second week of September. The figure was more than four times the level seen during the same period a year earlier, when the rate stood at 6.7 cases per 1,000 patients.
AJP Takeaways
- Free flu vaccinations began nationwide on Monday, with children ages 6 months to 14 years and pregnant women among the first groups eligible for the shots.
- The vaccination program has expanded to include more children this year, raising the age limit for free flu shots from 13 to 14. Vaccinations for older adults will begin Oct. 12, starting with those aged 75 and above.
- Suspected flu cases have risen sharply, with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reporting 31 flu-like cases per 1,000 outpatients in the second week of September, more than four times the 6.7 cases recorded during the same period last year.
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