Seongnam City Expands "Shingles Vaccination Support" to All Citizens Aged 65 and Over

Mayor Shin Sangjin Allocates 7.4 Billion Won for Program
"Aims to Increase Vaccination Rate and Support Healthy Lives"

Seongnam City in Gyeonggi Province announced on June 30 that, starting July 1, it will expand shingles vaccination support to include all citizens aged 65 and over.

Poster for Shingles Vaccination Support for Seongnam Citizens Aged 65 and Over. Provided by Seongnam City

The city has changed and relaxed its previous criteria for free shingles vaccination support, which had been limited to "basic livelihood security recipients and those in the second-lowest income bracket aged 60 and over," and has allocated a budget of 7.4 billion won for the program.

As a result, out of the total 165,441 citizens aged 65 and over in the city, an additional 125,376 people, excluding those who have already been vaccinated, are expected to receive the vaccine.

Eligible individuals can receive a single-dose live shingles vaccine at one of the 325 designated medical institutions in Seongnam, which is effective with just one shot.

The vaccine cost will be fully covered by Seongnam City, so recipients only need to pay the administration fee of 19,610 won.

Shingles is a disease that occurs when the dormant chickenpox virus is reactivated due to weakened immunity, which can happen when the body is weakened or when there is another illness.

The disease causes severe pain as band-shaped skin rashes and blisters spread along one of the nerves in the body.

The incidence rate among those aged 65 and over is 8 to 10 times higher than that of younger age groups.

Seongnam Mayor Shin Sangjin stated, "Currently, the cost of shingles vaccination at hospitals and clinics is around 120,000 to 150,000 won," adding, "By reducing the financial burden, we aim to increase the vaccination rate among citizens aged 65 and over who have hesitated due to cost, thereby supporting a healthier life."

The list of designated medical institutions in Seongnam where shingles vaccination is available can be found on the Seongnam City Public Health Center website (Information Center → Vaccination News).