Nowon-gu Expands Free Shingles Vaccination for Seniors to Those Aged 65 and Over

Shingles Free Vaccination Eligibility Expanded from 75 to 65 Years and Older
Targeting Residents Aged 65+ Living in Nowon-gu for Over 6 Months Without Shingles Vaccination History
Free Vaccinations Begin February 15 at 189 Designated Medical Institutions

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will expand the eligibility for free shingles vaccination to those aged 65 and older starting this year to promote healthy aging among senior citizens.

The free shingles vaccination, which has been in effect since February 15 this year, is available to seniors aged 65 and older (born on or before December 31, 1959) who have lived in Nowon-gu for more than six months as of December last year and have no prior history of shingles vaccination. Seniors who have had shingles can also receive the vaccination 6 to 12 months after recovery.

It is estimated that about 76,000 seniors, excluding those already vaccinated, out of approximately 96,000 eligible individuals will benefit from this vaccination program.

The basis for expanding the eligibility refers to a survey by the National Health Insurance Service, which found that people in their 60s account for 23.8% of shingles patients. To support this, a local ordinance for shingles vaccination support for those aged 65 and older was established in October 2022.

Those wishing to receive the vaccination should bring their ID and a resident registration abstract showing any address changes within the past year to a nearby designated medical institution. The Nowon-gu website provides a list of 189 designated medical institutions in the area.

Since May last year, the district has prioritized vaccination for seniors aged 75 and older who are vulnerable to diseases, with 49.9% of about 39,000 seniors having completed the vaccination.

Mr. Kim, a resident of Sanggye-dong, said, “I suffered greatly from shingles five years ago, and when I looked into vaccination, the cost was higher than I expected, so I hesitated. But when I heard that Nowon-gu offers free shingles vaccination, I got vaccinated. I am very grateful.”

In addition, to protect not only the physical health but also the mental health of seniors, the district has established the , the first of its kind nationwide to be directly operated by a local government, providing counseling and solutions for issues such as elderly suicide, depression, and sexual problems.

Furthermore, to meet the diverse welfare needs of seniors, a new-concept senior welfare center featuring a health consultation room, billiards room, table tennis room, karaoke room, movie and music room, IT learning center, senior cafeteria, and job counseling center was opened in July last year and is currently in operation.

Mayor Oh Seung-rok stated, “Starting this year, we are expanding free shingles vaccination support for seniors aged 65 and older to protect their health and reduce economic burdens. We will continue to identify and support medical blind spots that have not benefited our residents to ensure a healthy life for all.”