On the 16th, an 18-year-old high school student who received the flu vaccine was found dead at home
Authorities: "Not vaccinated with the vaccine that had distribution issues"
Some citizens: "Who would get vaccinated if they were worried?"
[Asia Economy reporters Seunggon Han and Yeonju Kim] "They just say to get vaccinated at school no matter what, but how can I get it when I'm scared?", "I will wait for the investigation results, but honestly, I feel anxious."
On the 19th, following the death of a high school student A (18) two days after receiving a flu vaccine, health authorities have launched an investigation into the cause, while distrust toward vaccination is spreading. Some citizens, worried about the simultaneous outbreak of COVID-19 and the flu, had planned to get vaccinated but are expressing feelings of fear.
Student A received a flu vaccine at an otolaryngology clinic in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, at noon on the 14th and was found dead at home on the morning of the 16th. The vaccine A received was part of the national procurement supply, a free vaccine distributed to medical institutions by Sinseong Pharmaceutical, which has a supply contract with the government.
According to police investigations, A’s mother reportedly stated that she found him dead in his room in the morning. It was also reported that A had no underlying diseases except for rhinitis. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the vaccine A received was not one that had issues during distribution due to exposure to room temperature.
As a clear cause of A’s death has not been identified, citizens are expressing anxiety.
Housewife Park (59, female) said, "Today (the 19th) is the start of the free vaccination period for the elderly, and my mother said she got vaccinated in the morning, but hearing this news makes me uneasy," adding, "The cause should be identified quickly and communicated to the public so that people can get vaccinated with peace of mind."
Park emphasized, "As citizens’ interest in flu vaccination has increased due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, safety must be guaranteed."
Office worker Lee (27, female) also expressed anxiety, saying, "I heard that vaccines with distribution issues were provided to free vaccination recipients, so I told my family to postpone their vaccinations," and added, "After hearing about the death, I thought we should just not get vaccinated this year."
A notice about flu vaccination is posted at the entrance of a hospital in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News
On online communities and other platforms, posts expressing anxiety related to the flu vaccine continue to be posted.
On the 19th, a post titled "Teen flu vaccination death" was shared on a local online community, and as reports about A’s death circulated, many responded that they would postpone vaccination. Comments under the post included, "I’m taking my 6-month-old baby for vaccination tomorrow, but I’m really scared," "I’m postponing my high school son’s vaccination," "I already got the vaccine but I’m scared," "I won’t get vaccinated this year," and "I vaccinated my child on Saturday but now I feel it was pointless," expressing anxiety.
In another online community, a user identifying as a teenager questioned, "Is it safe to get the (flu) vaccine?" The post received comments such as, "The school made everyone get vaccinated compulsorily, but how can I get it when I’m scared?" and "Most schools repeatedly emphasize vaccination, but I’m anxious because I can’t avoid it," showing widespread concern.
Health authorities stated that it is uncertain whether there is a direct link between the vaccination and the death.
Jung Eun-kyung, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), said at a regular briefing held at the KDCA in Osong, Chungbuk, on the afternoon of the 19th, "The vaccine was distributed by Sinseong Pharmaceutical, but it was not among those recalled for being outside the proper temperature range, and no issues were found in the distribution process."
She added, "There is no confirmed causal relationship yet that the adverse reaction was caused by the vaccination. There were no special symptoms immediately after vaccination, and the death was confirmed after some time had passed, so an autopsy to determine the cause of death is necessary first."
She continued, "To my knowledge, there have been no cases of death caused by adverse reactions to the influenza vaccine," adding, "Severe adverse reactions to the influenza vaccine usually occur immediately after vaccination or manifest as clinical symptoms other than death, so it is still difficult to discuss causality."
Meanwhile, according to the KDCA, as of the 18th, there have been a total of 353 reported adverse reactions following influenza vaccination this year. Among the reported cases, 124 were from paid vaccinations and 229 from free vaccinations. The adverse reactions included 98 local reactions, 99 allergy cases, 98 fever cases, and 69 other cases.
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