[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] An incident occurred where influenza (flu) vaccines were exposed to room temperature during distribution, leading to a temporary suspension of free vaccinations just one day before they were scheduled to begin.
On the 21st, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced in a press release, "We discovered issues during the distribution process by the influenza procurement contractor and plan to temporarily suspend the national influenza vaccination program starting from the 22nd."
The KDCA explained that to ensure thorough quality verification, the temporary suspension will apply not only to the affected batch but also to all target groups, including pregnant women.
The problematic vaccines correspond to the batch intended for free vaccination of individuals aged 13 to 18 starting on the 22nd. Influenza vaccines must be kept refrigerated during transport, but it was reported that some contractors exposed the vaccines to room temperature during transit.
Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the KDCA, stated, "With the suspension of vaccinations for pregnant women, children under 18, and those who require two doses starting on the 22nd, we will provide guidance to participating medical institutions and recipients to prevent confusion and minimize inconvenience. Although no adverse reactions have been reported among those vaccinated so far, we plan to strengthen monitoring of adverse reactions more rigorously."
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