KCDC: "Among Flu Vaccine Deaths, 4 Cases with Same Batch Number Totaling 8 People" (Update)

The 11th·22nd, 13th·15th, 5th·20th, and 3rd·19th Deaths Share the Same Vaccine Batch Numbers in Four Pairs

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-jung] Amid a series of deaths following influenza (flu) vaccinations, a total of four cases (eight people) have been reported where individuals died after receiving vaccines produced with the same lot number.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) as of 4 p.m. yesterday, among the 25 reported deaths, the 11th and 22nd, 13th and 15th, 5th and 20th, and 3rd and 19th deceased had all received vaccines with the same lot number.

The flu vaccines they received were from three manufacturers: SK Bioscience's 'SkyCellflu Quadrivalent (lot numbers Q022048, Q022049)', LG Chem's 'FluPlus Tetra (YFTP20005)', and GC Green Cross's 'GC Flu Quadrivalent (Q60220039)'.

The identical lot number means that the vaccines were manufactured and assembled by a single producer on the same day, sharing the same characteristics. The occurrence of deaths among recipients of vaccines with the same lot number raises the possibility that there may be an issue with the vaccine itself.

KDCA Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyung explained that since there have been no deaths from the same manufacturing process and identical lot number, "there is no possibility of a problem with the vaccine itself." However, with deaths occurring from the same lot number, related countermeasures are currently being discussed.

A KDCA official stated, "From 4 p.m. today, the Vaccination Expert Committee will convene to comprehensively discuss whether to suspend vaccinations and related countermeasures," adding, "Once the meeting concludes, we will provide the first review results on the cases examined this morning by the Vaccination Damage Investigation Team and the association between the vaccine and the deaths."