One Flu Vaccine Recipient Exposed to Room Temperature Reports Pain... "Improving" (Update)

KDCA "407 Vaccinated in 10 Regions, 1 with Adverse Reaction"
Flu Vaccine Typically Shows About 15% Local Pain, etc.
Disappears After 1-2 Days... "One Week Intensive Monitoring"

On the 28th, a citizen is receiving a flu vaccination at a hospital in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The quarantine authorities reported on the 28th that among 407 people who received influenza (flu) vaccines that may have been exposed to room temperature, one person has reported an adverse reaction. The free vaccination program for middle and high school students, which was scheduled to start on the 22nd, was temporarily suspended following reports that some vaccines had been exposed to room temperature. Contrary to what the authorities initially understood, some individuals had already received the vaccines, and monitoring is being conducted for those vaccinated.

Yang Dong-kyo, Director of the Medical Safety Prevention Bureau at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), stated at the briefing of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters on the 28th, "As of the 27th, the number of government-procured vaccine doses administered under investigation is 407 across 10 regions," adding, "So far, there has been one report of pain at the injection site from the previous day, and no other adverse reactions have been reported."

It is not yet confirmed whether the person who experienced pain actually received a flu vaccine exposed to room temperature. Investigations are ongoing to determine the scale of the vaccines exposed to room temperature and the regions to which these vaccines were distributed.

Jeong Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the KDCA, explained that mild pain after receiving a flu vaccine is a common occurrence. Especially with traditional vaccine manufacturing methods that use eggs, individuals allergic to egg proteins may experience adverse reactions, and such individuals are advised not to receive the vaccine.

The vaccinated individual who reported pain is said to be experiencing pain at the injection site, but it is gradually improving. Commissioner Jeong stated, "Generally, vaccinations introduce antigens or protein components into the body, so some adverse reactions are reported with any vaccine," and explained, "Local adverse reactions such as redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site occur in about 10-15% of cases and usually disappear within a day or two."

Earlier, it was raised that some flu vaccines distributed nationwide by Shinseong Pharmaceutical may have been exposed to room temperature, and investigations by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and related authorities are currently underway. Upon recognizing the possibility of room temperature exposure, the authorities immediately suspended the national vaccination program temporarily; however, some medical institutions in certain regions were unaware of this and proceeded with vaccinations. The investigation also revealed signs of poor management, such as administering free vaccines to those who were supposed to pay.

Director Yang said, "Adverse reactions to vaccinations usually appear within a day or two after vaccination, but this time, a one-week intensive monitoring period has been set, and local governments have been advised to conduct monitoring," adding, "Even after the intensive monitoring period, there is a system for continuous monitoring through the vaccination management system."