Authorities: "Very Low Causality Between Vaccine and 71 Deaths After Flu Vaccination"

KDCA Receives Reports of Adverse Reactions to Influenza Vaccination
Surge in Reports After Free Vaccination for Elderly Begins... 72 Deaths Reported

On the 26th, when the government resumed free influenza vaccinations for seniors aged 62 to 69, citizens lined up in front of a hospital in Seoul to receive their flu shots. After restarting free vaccinations for those under 12 and pregnant women on September 25, for ages 13 to 18 on October 13, and for those aged 70 and above on the 19th, this marks the final age group for the resumed vaccinations. Regarding the recent 48 deaths following flu vaccinations, the government announced on the 23rd that there is no correlation and that vaccinations will continue. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] As of the 29th, there have been 72 reported deaths following influenza (flu) vaccinations. According to investigations by authorities, almost all cases were found to have a very low causal relationship between the deaths and the vaccinations.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported a total of 1,551 adverse reactions received as of midnight on the same day. The KDCA stated that none of the reported adverse reactions have been confirmed to be causally related to the vaccinations. Among the 72 reported deaths, one occurred before the free vaccination program for the elderly began on the 19th, 59 occurred between the 19th and 25th when free vaccinations started for those aged 70 and above, and 12 occurred during the three days from the 26th to the 28th. Of these, 62 were aged 70 or older, 2 were in their 60s, and 8 were under 60.

Regarding the time elapsed from vaccination to death, 43 cases (more than half) died after more than 48 hours, 17 cases died between 24 and 48 hours, and 12 cases died within 24 hours. The KDCA stated, "At the rapid response meeting of the damage investigation team held today, an analysis of 25 additional death cases concluded that all had a very low causal relationship between the deaths and the vaccinations."

Among the 25 cases, there were no instances of acute hypersensitivity reactions such as anaphylaxis, nor were there any severe adverse reactions reported among vaccine recipients who received vaccines with the same lot number on the same day. The KDCA also reviewed previously reported death cases through basic and epidemiological investigations, autopsy results, and medical records, concluding that the causal relationship with vaccination was very low. They determined that there is no need to recall vaccines of specific lot numbers or suspend the national vaccination program.

Meanwhile, the National Forensic Service has conducted autopsies on 40 of the 72 reported death cases as of the day before, with 31 cases not autopsied and one case pending confirmation of autopsy status. Among the 40 autopsied cases, no abnormal findings were observed at the vaccination site, and 11 cases had causes of death that could be confirmed based on the initial autopsy findings alone.

The remaining 29 cases showed ischemic heart disease (myocardial infarction), valvular heart disease, cardiac hypertrophy, or pneumonia upon visual examination during autopsy, and further tests are being conducted. The 31 non-autopsied cases had underlying conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, asthma, chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, cardiovascular diseases including angina or myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, malignant tumors, and cerebral infarction. It was concluded that these individuals died due to worsening underlying diseases or other causes such as suffocation or septic shock.