"Is It Safe to Get the Flu Vaccine?"... Citizens Expressing 'Vaccine Phobia' Concerns

9 Deaths After Flu Vaccination... "No Confirmed Link Yet"
Experts Say "Low Possibility of Death Due to Flu Vaccine Side Effects"

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 Reporter Heo Midam] "Is it safe to vaccinate children?", "I'm hesitant to get vaccinated."

As cases of death following influenza (flu) vaccination continue to emerge, public anxiety is rising. In particular, with the number of deaths after flu vaccination increasing to nine in the past week, citizens' concerns and confusion are growing even more.

Health authorities are conducting autopsies and other investigations to determine the cause of death but have ruled out the possibility of toxicity from the vaccine itself and have not suspended the vaccination schedule. Experts also judge that the recent deaths are unlikely to be directly related to the flu vaccine.

Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), held an emergency briefing on the flu vaccine at the KDCA in Osong, Chungbuk, on the 21st, stating, "So far, a total of nine death cases have been reported, and epidemiological investigations and autopsies to determine the cause of death are underway for eight of them."

She added, "We are monitoring whether adverse reactions occur among those vaccinated on the same date at the same medical institution with the same vaccine lot number," and said, "We discussed six death cases reported as of the morning of the 21st, but considering that severe adverse reactions were not significantly higher in any particular vaccine, we judge that there is no reason to suspend vaccinations."

She also noted, "Among the death cases, two cannot rule out the possibility of anaphylaxis, and for the other reported cases, we will confirm causality through additional autopsy results and medical record investigations." Anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction that occurs systemically within minutes to hours after exposure to certain foods, drugs, or other allergens.

In online communities such as mom cafes, posts from netizens hesitating to get the flu vaccine are increasingly appearing. Photo by Naver screen capture.

Given this situation, online communities are filled with people expressing 'flu vaccine phobia.' They hesitate to get the flu vaccine as fatal incidents following vaccination continue to occur.

One netizen shared on a mom caf?, "This flu vaccine season has been full of troubles. My family hasn't been vaccinated yet, but whether we do or not, we're worried," adding, "It's like a game of nerves. People around me say it's better to get vaccinated, but with the ongoing deaths, it's scary."

Comments on the post included, "The continuous deaths make me unnecessarily scared. My young child hasn't been vaccinated yet, and I envy those who got vaccinated early," "I know there are side effects every year, but with the news openly reporting them, my anxiety has increased, so I might skip it this year," and "I don't want to get vaccinated. The ongoing deaths are frightening. You never know what might happen."

Other posts in online communities include concerns such as "Are those who got free vaccinations okay?", "I've already been vaccinated, what should I do? I feel like I shouldn't have gotten it," and "Is it safe for children to get the vaccine?"

Experts assess that the likelihood of death due to flu vaccine side effects is low. Professor Eom Jung-sik, an infectious disease specialist at Gachon University Gil Medical Center, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki Jung Kwan-yong' on the 20th and explained, "The flu vaccine is made by inactivating the virus and including a small amount of the killed virus in the vaccine to induce preventive effects," adding, "The chance of causing severe adverse reactions is very low."

He continued, "Because so many people are getting vaccinated this year, more than half of them belong to high-risk groups such as the elderly or those with immunodeficiency or chronic diseases," and said, "If vaccination occurs in people with existing conditions or if someone without underlying diseases dies from other serious illnesses, it might appear to be related to the vaccine."

Professor Eom emphasized, "Stopping or delaying vaccination due to very rare cases could lead to more deaths. Suspending or postponing vaccination is not a good approach. Vaccination should be carried out."