11th and 22nd, 13th and 15th Deaths Share Same Lot Number... "Cannot Rule Out Vaccine Itself as Cause"
[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jung] Amid a series of deaths following influenza (flu) vaccinations, cases of death after receiving vaccines produced with the same lot number have occurred.
Health authorities are preparing countermeasures as public anxiety increases due to consecutive deaths after flu vaccinations, additional cases of vaccination with the same lot number have emerged, and the possibility of issues with the vaccine itself cannot be ruled out.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) as of 4 p.m. on the 22nd, there have been a total of 25 deaths following flu vaccinations, with 22 cases in those aged 60 and over, and 3 cases under 60.
By date, a 17-year-old died in Incheon on the 16th, and after free flu vaccinations for those aged 70 and over began on the 19th, there was 1 death on the 19th, 4 on the 20th, 10 on the 21st, and 9 on the 22nd, showing a continuous increase.
By region, Gyeongbuk had the highest number with 4 deaths, followed by Seoul, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam with 3 each; Incheon and Daegu with 2 each; and Daejeon, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungnam, and Jeju with 1 each, indicating deaths occurring nationwide.
Notably, among the deceased, there were 2 cases (4 people) who died after receiving vaccines produced with the same lot number. Among the 25 deceased, the 11th and 22nd, and the 13th and 15th deaths received vaccines with the same lot numbers.
The 11th and 22nd deceased received the 'SkyCellflu Quadrivalent' vaccine (lot number Q022048), and the 13th and 15th deceased received the 'SkyCellflu Quadrivalent' vaccine (lot number Q022049).
A lot number is a unique identifier assigned to a batch of products manufactured and assembled under the same conditions by a single producer, sharing identical characteristics. The occurrence of vaccinations with the same lot number means that the possibility of a problem with the vaccine itself cannot be excluded.
KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyung has explained that there has been no occurrence of deaths from the same manufacturing process and lot number so far, indicating that the possibility of a problem with the vaccine itself is unlikely.
During the comprehensive audit of the Health and Welfare Committee held at the National Assembly on the same day, when Shin Hyun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asked, "What will happen if additional deaths occur from the same manufacturing process and lot number?" Commissioner Jeong responded, "The relevant lot will be sealed off, vaccinations will be suspended, and a re-examination will be requested from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety."
As public anxiety grows due to consecutive deaths after flu vaccinations and cases of death after receiving vaccines produced with the same lot number occur, health authorities are preparing countermeasures.
A KDCA official stated, "On the 23rd, we will hold a meeting of the Vaccination Damage Investigation Team and the Vaccination Expert Committee to comprehensively review additional reported cases with experts," adding, "This will be the third meeting related to influenza vaccinations this year, where we plan to discuss the vaccination situation and countermeasures."
Meanwhile, even after 4 p.m. on the same day, additional deaths following flu vaccinations were reported, increasing the total number of deaths to 28, according to KDCA statistics.
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