KDCA: "Flu Vaccine Death Reports Unrelated to Vaccine"

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] All reported cases of death following influenza (flu) vaccination this year have been found to have no relation to the vaccine.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) as of midnight on the 5th, a total of 108 cases of death reported after flu vaccination have been investigated by the health authorities, and no association with the vaccine was confirmed.

Among the reported deaths so far, 81.5% (88 people) were aged 70 or older, with the highest number being 48 people aged 80 or older, followed by 40 people in their 70s, and 10 people each in their 60s and under 60. The time from vaccination to death was 48 hours or more for 68 people (63.0%) and less than 24 hours for 19 people (17.6%).

As of midnight on the same day, approximately 13.55 million free and paid flu vaccinations have been administered domestically. Among the total 19,586,225 eligible individuals for the national free vaccination program?including infants aged 6 months to 12 years, pregnant women, those aged 13 to 18, those aged 62 and older, and recipients of disability pensions, allowances, and medical benefits?13,557,611 vaccinations have been given, resulting in a vaccination rate of 69.2%.

As of midnight on the same day, 2,017 cases of adverse reactions such as fever and local reactions after flu vaccination have been reported, but none have been confirmed to be causally related to the vaccination. Jeong Eun-kyung, head of the KDCA, urged, "Those eligible for the national vaccination program who have not yet been vaccinated are requested to complete their vaccination by the 31st."