Investigation into Link to Death of Man in His 60s
High Possibility All Products Are from Different Companies
On the 20th, citizens are receiving flu vaccinations at the Korea Health Management Association Seoul Western Branch in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where the free influenza (flu) vaccination program is being conducted. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
[Asia Economy Reporters Seo So-jeong, Choi Dae-yeol] A man in his 60s who received an influenza (flu) vaccine in Jeju Island died early on the 21st, raising the total number of vaccine-related deaths to four. The man was vaccinated with the flu vaccine at a medical institution in the province on the 19th. Jeju health authorities are investigating whether there is any connection to the vaccine.
Amid ongoing vaccine-related death incidents, concerns are spreading as it appears that the flu vaccines administered to each deceased person were produced by different companies. Considering that 82,668 people received the same batch number as the 17-year-old who died two days after vaccination, it cannot be ruled out that up to hundreds of thousands of people may have received the problematic vaccine.
As anxiety over the flu vaccine grows, a peculiar scene is unfolding at frontline hospitals where patients are checking the manufacturer of the vaccine. On this day, many people seeking flu vaccinations at clinics and hospitals were frequently heard asking, "Who is the vaccine manufacturer?" A pediatrician in Mapo-gu, Seoul, said, "The number of people asking about the manufacturer before vaccination has increased," adding, "There is also a noticeable atmosphere of avoiding the flu vaccine." An internal medicine official in Seocho-gu said, "With the start of free flu vaccinations for those aged 70 and over, many elderly lined up to get vaccinated, but the numbers have noticeably decreased over the past couple of days," and added, "Many elderly people are postponing their scheduled vaccinations."
A woman in her 70s who died on the 20th after receiving a flu vaccine on the 19th in Gochang, Jeonbuk, was confirmed to have received a product from Boryung Biopharma. An octogenarian who died five hours after receiving a flu vaccine on the morning of the 20th had been vaccinated with Korea Vaccine’s Cobax Influenza 4 PF injection. The 17-year-old high school student who died on the 16th after receiving a flu vaccine on the 14th had received a national procurement vaccine distributed by Shinseong Pharm. A Boryung official stated, "Since the vaccine raw materials, production, and distribution companies are all different, we are awaiting the health authorities’ investigation."
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, a total of 30.04 million doses (one dose per vaccination) of vaccines will be supplied domestically this year, and as of the 18th, shipment approval has been completed for 29.59 million doses. Due to improper temperature management or issues with white particles, 1.06 million doses were recalled, so the actual circulating volume is 28.98 million doses. Of these, 26.78 million doses have already been supplied to public health centers and contracted medical institutions, and as of the 18th, 9.55 million people have completed vaccination.
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