Incheon City Simultaneously Begins Free Shingles Vaccination for Low-Income Seniors in 10 Districts and Counties

Incheon City announced on the 8th that free shingles vaccinations for elderly basic livelihood security recipients aged 65 and over will simultaneously begin in 10 districts and counties starting from the 11th.

Previously, the shingles vaccination program was conducted individually in 8 districts and counties, but with the expansion to include Gyeyang-gu and Bupyeong-gu, totaling 10 districts and counties, the health imbalance caused by differing support levels among autonomous districts can now be resolved.

This project is a citizen proposal pledge of the 8th term of the mayor and is being implemented for the first time this year. In June of last year, the "Incheon City Shingles Vaccination Support Ordinance" was enacted to provide a legal basis for the project.

Incheon City Hall

The vaccination target is basic livelihood security recipients aged 65 or older who have resided in Incheon City for more than one year according to their resident registration, excluding those with a history of previous shingles vaccination.

The vaccines used are two types of live vaccines (Zostavax, Sky Zoster). Those wishing to be vaccinated can visit health centers or one of the 554 contracted medical institutions affiliated with the health centers to receive the vaccination.

Shingles is a disease caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which remains dormant in the body after chickenpox infection. It has a high incidence rate among the elderly with weakened immunity. It appears as erythematous vesicles along the nerve ganglia and can cause severe pain and complications such as neuralgia.

An official from Incheon City stated, "Vaccination is the top priority for preventing shingles," and added, "We hope that vulnerable elderly people who hesitated to get vaccinated due to economic burdens will be able to enjoy a healthy old age through free vaccination."