Two Pairs of Deceased Influenza Vaccines Match... Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency at a Crossroads Over 'Vaccination Suspension'

11th and 22nd, 13th and 15th Deaths Received Vaccines with Same Lot Number
KCDC to Gather Expert Opinions Today...Medical Association Recommends Suspension Causing Field Confusion

On the 22nd, cases of death due to flu vaccines have been occurring nationwide. At Seoul Dongbu Hospital in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, fewer people than usual are registering to receive the flu vaccination. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] As cases of death following influenza (flu) vaccination continue to occur, increasing public anxiety, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) faces a crossroads regarding the 'national immunization support program suspension.' Until now, the deceased had received vaccines with different batch numbers, leading to the judgment that there was no issue with the vaccine itself. However, after two death cases (four people) occurred from vaccines with the same batch number the previous day, calls for a temporary suspension grew louder.

Experts advise that excessive fear is unnecessary from a public health perspective, as there has not yet been a single clearly established case directly linking deaths to the flu vaccine this year. However, since some deaths occurred from vaccines with the same batch number, detailed investigations are being conducted, and there are opinions suggesting consideration of a temporary suspension, leaving the KDCA in a dilemma.

On the 23rd, the KDCA will hold a meeting of the Vaccine Injury Investigation Team and the Vaccination Expert Committee to comprehensively gather expert opinions on additional death reports and decide whether to suspend vaccinations. A KDCA official said, "The meeting focused intensively on discussions about suspending vaccinations due to the occurrence of deaths," adding, "We will carefully listen to expert opinions and prepare future vaccination schedules and countermeasures related to the deaths."

Vaccine Society: "Low Possibility of Direct Cause"
"Concerns That Suspension May Cause Greater Confusion"

Experts' opinions are divided over the 'suspension of vaccinations.' Professor Lee Jae-gap of Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital's Infectious Diseases Department said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "There are two death cases related to the same batch number, but the possibility of coincidence cannot be excluded," adding, "Suspending vaccinations now would only cause greater confusion." Typically, flu outbreaks begin from late November to December. Considering that antibodies form about two weeks after vaccination, vaccinations should be completed at least by this month, or at the latest by mid-November. Professor Lee expressed concern, saying, "Last month, some vaccines were exposed to room temperature during distribution, causing a full suspension of the program and delaying vaccination schedules. If delayed again now, people may completely miss the vaccination period, causing significant harm to public health."

The Vaccine Society also expressed the opinion that vaccinations should continue. Hwang Eung-su, president of the Vaccine Society, explained, "Death cases are sporadic, not regionally limited, with different manufacturers and unique production batch numbers, and symptoms do not match," adding, "There have been no typical cases linked to anaphylactic shock, a severe allergic reaction known as a cause of flu vaccine-related deaths." President Hwang emphasized, "Vaccination is essential for children, adolescents, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals with chronic diseases," and stressed, "This year, with the overlap of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), vaccinations must not be suspended."

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@

Korean Medical Association: "Thorough Investigation Needed"
"More Reports of Side Effects in Medical Settings Than Usual"

On the other hand, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) recommended temporarily postponing flu vaccinations from today until the 29th. KMA President Choi Dae-jip said, "The causal relationship between death reports after vaccination has not been clearly established," adding, "The government must accurately determine causality through autopsies and medical history investigations of the deceased, and since many of the vaccines involved were government-procured, a thorough investigation of distribution and storage processes is also necessary."

Professor Chun Eun-mi of Ewha Mokdong Hospital's Respiratory Medicine Department said, "Hospitals are seeing side effects after flu vaccinations, and recent cases show more severe symptoms than usual, which mostly involved mild symptoms like low-grade fever and fatigue," adding, "It would be best to observe for about one to two weeks."

According to the KDCA the previous day, two death cases (four people) involved vaccines produced with the same batch number (lot number). The 11th and 22nd deceased received SK Bioscience's 'Skycellflu Quadrivalent' (lot number Q022048), and the 13th and 15th deceased received 'Skycellflu Quadrivalent' (lot number Q022049). A lot number is a unique identifier assigned to a group of products manufactured and assembled under the same conditions by a single producer on the same day, sharing identical characteristics. KDCA Director Jeong Eun-kyung explained that since no deaths had occurred from the same manufacturing process and identical lot number previously, "there is no possibility of a problem with the vaccine itself," but with deaths now occurring from the same lot number, related countermeasures are under discussion.