Gijang-gun, Busan's First Support for Shingles Vaccination for Vulnerable Elderly

Support for Shingles Vaccination Costs
for Medical and Livelihood Benefit Recipients
Aged 65 and Over Residing in Gijang-gun as of the Vaccination Date

Busan Gijang-gun (Governor Jeong Jong-bok) has been supporting the cost of shingles vaccination for vulnerable groups aged 65 and over (medical and livelihood benefit recipients) since February this year.

This support project aims to guarantee the health rights of elderly people who hesitate to get vaccinated due to economic burdens by providing financial assistance for shingles vaccination. It is the first case initiated by Busan City.

Shingles incidence increases with age and is accompanied by severe pain when it occurs. Complications such as meningitis and myelitis can develop, making it important for the elderly to reduce the incidence rate through vaccination.

Last October, the county enacted the "Gijang-gun Ordinance on Support for Selective Vaccination" to establish the basis for support. After reflecting the related budget and selecting entrusted institutions, the support project officially started on the 3rd of this month.

The support target is medical and livelihood benefit recipients aged 65 or older (born on or before December 31, 1960) residing in Gijang-gun as of the vaccination date. However, those who have already completed the shingles vaccination are excluded.

Vaccinations can be received at 32 designated entrusted medical institutions within the region. To get vaccinated, individuals must visit the designated entrusted medical institution with their ID, a copy of their resident registration issued on the day, and a certificate of benefit recipient. Note that the Gijang-gun Public Health Center does not provide vaccinations.

The vaccines available for this vaccination are the live attenuated shingles vaccine and the recombinant subunit vaccine. The live vaccine is completely free, while 120,000 KRW is supported for the subunit vaccine vaccination cost.

Governor Jeong Jong-bok said, "With this shingles vaccination support, we can reduce the incidence rate of shingles among vulnerable elderly groups and contribute to protecting their health," adding, "We will discover and implement various health care policies to improve the quality of life for the elderly."

For more details, please refer to the Gijang-gun Public Health Center website or contact the Infectious Disease Prevention Team at the Gijang-gun Public Health Center.