Searching for Cheaper Options: The Rise of 'Flu Shot Tours'

Mr. A (50), who lives in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, recently received an influenza vaccination with his two children at a clinic in Nowon-gu, Seoul. Because the cost of the flu shot at hospitals and clinics near his home was 40,000 won, he traveled to Seoul to find a relatively cheaper clinic. Mr. A said, "In Nowon-gu, you can get vaccinated for around 10,000 won," and added, "I was surprised that the price for the same flu shot varies so much from one clinic to another."

Photo of a hospital related to influenza. Not directly related to the article.

As the price of influenza vaccinations varies significantly between hospitals and clinics, a phenomenon known as the 'flu shot tour' is emerging, with people searching for cheaper options.

On December 31, The Asia Business Daily contacted 15 hospitals and clinics in the Seoul area to inquire about influenza vaccination costs. The prices ranged widely, from 15,000 won to 50,000 won. The average price was approximately 37,000 won. Hospitals and clinics in areas with relatively high rents, such as Gangnam-gu and Seocho-gu, tended to charge higher vaccination fees.

By vaccine type, imported quadrivalent vaccines are usually the most expensive, followed by domestic quadrivalent and domestic trivalent vaccines. Quadrivalent vaccines protect against two types of influenza A and two types of influenza B, while trivalent vaccines protect against two types of influenza A and one type of influenza B. Because quadrivalent vaccines contain one more preventive antigen, their manufacturing cost is inevitably higher than that of trivalent vaccines. In addition, for imported vaccines, extra costs such as logistics fees also contribute to higher prices.

However, even for the same vaccine from the same manufacturer, price differences occur between hospitals because flu shots are not covered by the national health insurance. Since the government does not control the price, hospitals and clinics can set their own prices, taking into account factors such as rent, labor costs, and operating expenses. Professor Eom Joongsik of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Gachon University Gil Medical Center explained, "In some cases, the perceived cost increases because additional prescriptions, such as antiviral drugs or nutritional injections, are administered during the vaccination process."