Park Neung-hoo "Nationwide Vaccination Overdoing is Harmful... No Need for Debate"

Park Neung-hoo, the 1st Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (Minister of Health and Welfare), is announcing the results of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the response to the novel coronavirus infection at the Government Seoul Office Building on the afternoon of the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] On the 17th, Park Neung-hoo, Minister of Health and Welfare, dismissed the ruling People Power Party's call for a 'nationwide flu vaccine' by saying, "There is no need for debate either medically or numerically."

Minister Park made this remark during the plenary session of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee when Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Hyun-young asked about the necessity of a nationwide flu vaccine.

Minister Park explained, "We have secured enough doses to vaccinate up to 60% of the population," adding, "Experts commonly agree that securing doses for 60% coverage is sufficient."

He continued, "No country in the world vaccinates more than half of its population against the flu. We have raised that by 10 percentage points."

He added, "Medically, this is an excessively stocked amount, and the medical community believes anything beyond this is truly unnecessary," emphasizing, "Currently, we are in a state of excessive stockpiling of flu vaccines. Even if we are criticized for over-preparing, considering the social unrest that could arise from shortages, we have secured this amount accepting the criticism."

Minister Park pointed out, "Common sense might suggest that vaccinating the entire population is safer, but medically, too much is as bad as too little," and warned, "Excess leads to inefficiency."