Gyeonggi-do has encouraged residents aged 65 and older in the province to receive the '23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)' vaccination.
Pneumococcus (invasive pneumococcal disease) is a major causative bacterium that can lead to pneumonia, bacteremia, and meningitis, and is highly fatal among the elderly aged 65 and above. If bacteremia develops due to pneumococcal infection, the fatality rate among seniors can reach up to 60%.
Gyeonggi-do has been supporting pneumococcal vaccinations for seniors annually since 2013, starting with vaccinations at public health centers. Seniors aged 65 and older who have not yet been vaccinated can receive a free vaccination (one dose) at a nearby designated medical institution.
Yoo Youngcheol, Director of Health and Wellness at Gyeonggi-do, stated, "Preventing infectious diseases among the elderly is directly linked to saving lives, so it is extremely important to steadily increase the vaccination rate." He added, "We will continue to actively promote and support the program to ensure that every senior in the province receives the vaccination without exception."
Meanwhile, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as of September this year, the vaccination rate among those aged 65 and older in the province was 77.8%, higher than in Seoul (74.8%) and Incheon (75.7%).
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