Seasonal Influenza National Vaccination

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that the 2024-2025 seasonal influenza national vaccination will be conducted from today until April 30th of next year.

This vaccination will be administered sequentially to children aged 6 months to 13 years (born between January 1, 2011 and August 31, 2024), pregnant women, and people aged 65 years and older (born before December 31, 1959) who are at high risk of developing severe influenza.

Vaccination Schedule

First, vaccination will begin with children who are eligible for two doses. This applies to children aged 6 months to 9 years who have never been vaccinated before or who have only received one dose.

Starting next month on the 2nd, children who are eligible for the first dose (other than those eligible for the second dose) and pregnant women will be vaccinated for free. On the 11th of next month, seniors over 65 years old will be able to get vaccinated.

Starting next month on the 11th, the 2024-2025 seasonal COVID-19 vaccination will also begin, and the quarantine authorities recommend that both vaccines be administered at the same time.

Importance of Vaccination

When you get the influenza vaccine, protective antibodies are formed after two weeks, and in the case of healthy adults, it is known that the vaccination has a 70-90% preventive effect.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency explains that vaccination is very important because it not only prevents infection but also reduces the risk of severe symptoms and death.

Common Adverse Reactions

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the most common adverse reactions after influenza vaccination are redness (swelling) and pain at the injection site, which usually disappear within 1-2 days.

Vaccine Information

This influenza vaccination will use a quadrivalent vaccine that includes the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended strain.

A contract for the procurement of 11.7 million doses (for one dose) has already been signed, and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency expects delivery to be completed before the target vaccination is implemented.

Those who are not eligible for free vaccination can receive it for a fee.