[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] Nearly 2,000 people have received influenza (flu) vaccines that were suspended due to suspected 'room temperature exposure' during the distribution process.
The number of vaccinated individuals is rapidly increasing day by day, rendering the health authorities' announcement that 'no one has been vaccinated' with the problematic vaccine supply meaningless. This has raised concerns that not only vaccine management but the entire vaccination program may have been poorly managed.
On the 1st, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) released reference materials related to the influenza vaccination program, stating, "As of September 30, a total of 1,910 doses of government-procured vaccines, currently under investigation for room temperature exposure, have been administered."
This is an increase of 548 people in one day compared to the 1,362 announced by the KDCA the previous day.
The vaccinated individuals are spread across 15 cities and provinces nationwide, excluding Gangwon and Ulsan.
By region, the numbers are: Gyeonggi 673 cases, Jeonbuk 326 cases, Incheon 214 cases, Gyeongbuk 161 cases, Seoul 149 cases, Busan 109 cases, Chungnam 74 cases, Sejong 51 cases, Daegu 46 cases, Gwangju 40 cases, Jeonnam 31 cases, Daejeon 17 cases, Gyeongnam 10 cases, Jeju 8 cases, and Chungbuk 1 case.
Initially, the KDCA announced on the 22nd of last month, immediately after suspending vaccine use, that no one had been vaccinated with the problematic vaccine. However, since September 25, the numbers have increased daily as follows: 105 → 224 → 324 → 407 → 873 → 1,362 → 1,910.
The KDCA previously confirmed that 'Shinseong Yakpum,' the company supplying the national procurement vaccines, violated the 'cold chain' principle by leaving the refrigerated truck door open or placing products on the floor during delivery. Consequently, the agency abruptly announced the suspension of the program on the night of the 21st.
The total amount of vaccine doses suspended due to suspected room temperature exposure is 5.78 million.
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