Vaccinations Begin in July
"Support Ordinance Revision and Supplementary Budget Proposal" Approved
Seongnam City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Shin Sang-jin) announced on the 19th that starting from July, the target group for shingles vaccination support will be expanded to include all Seongnam citizens aged 65 and older.
Seongnam City will expand the target for shingles vaccination support to all Seongnam citizens aged 65 and over starting from July. Photo by Seongnam City
At the 2nd plenary session of the 301st extraordinary meeting of the Seongnam City Council held that day, the "Ordinance for the Full Revision of the Shingles Vaccination Support Ordinance and the Supplementary Budget Proposal" was approved, establishing a legal basis for citizens aged 65 and older in Seongnam to receive financial support for their first-ever shingles vaccination.
This revision expands the support scope from the previous free vaccination targets, which were basic livelihood security recipients and near-poverty groups aged 60 and older, to all Seongnam citizens aged 65 and older.
Mayor Shin Sang-jin of Seongnam stated, "By expanding the target group for shingles vaccination support, we hope to reduce the incidence rate of shingles and prevent complications, thereby helping to lessen the economic burden on citizens and support healthy aging."
Shingles is a viral disease that can occur when immunity is weakened or after having had chickenpox in the past. Its incidence rate is 8 to 10 times higher in those aged 65 and older compared to younger age groups. It can also cause severe pain and, during the acute phase, may lead to serious complications such as meningitis, myelitis, and retinitis, making prevention a critical concern.
Seongnam City has secured a total project budget of 7.4 billion KRW through this ordinance revision and supplementary budget approval. Starting from July this year, the city plans to support the cost of shingles vaccination (live vaccine) for all citizens aged 65 and older, excluding the personal co-payment of 19,610 KRW. Since the current vaccination cost at hospitals and clinics ranges from 120,000 to 150,000 KRW, active participation in vaccination by citizens aged 65 and older who had hesitated due to economic burden is expected.
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