Free flu vaccinations extended to middle schoolers in South Korea

South Korea is expanding its national influenza vaccination program this fall, offering free shots to all middle school students, which includes those up to 14 years old. This initiative aims to bolster protection against the flu during the upcoming winter season.

The free vaccination campaign is scheduled to commence on September 21st and will run until April 30th of the following year. Initially, the program will prioritize children and pregnant women. For children and adolescents who have not received any flu shots before or have only received one dose, two doses will be administered starting September 21st. Pregnant women can also begin their vaccinations on the same day.

Children aged six months to 14 years who require a single dose will be eligible from September 28th. The program for seniors aged 65 and above will begin on October 12th, with staggered appointments based on age groups: 75 and older on October 12th, 70-74 year olds on October 15th, and 65-69 year olds on October 19th.

In addition to the flu vaccinations, the government also announced that COVID-19 vaccinations for individuals aged 65 and above will follow the same schedule. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) recommends receiving both the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines simultaneously. The vaccines used in this season's flu program will be trivalent vaccines, including three virus strains recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for epidemic preparedness. Eligible individuals can receive their vaccinations at nearby designated medical institutions or public health centers, regardless of their registered address.