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By Heekyong Yang
SEOUL, Oct 24 (Reuters) – The number of South Koreans who have died after receiving flu shots has risen to 48, the Korea Disease Prevention and Control Agency (KDCA) said on Saturday, adding that the vaccines will continue. reducing the possibility of having simultaneous epidemics.
Health authorities said they found no direct link between the deaths and the shooting. They plan to continue the state vaccination program to try to avoid having to fight both the flu and the coronavirus this coming winter.
“After reviewing the death cases so far, this is not the time to suspend a flu vaccination program, as vaccination is very crucial this year, considering … the COVID-19 outbreaks,” said the director. from the KDCA, Jeong Eun-kyung, at a briefing.
Jeong said the review did not show any direct link between flu shots and the 26 deaths that have been investigated.
Some 20 initial autopsy results from police and the National Forensic Service showed that 13 people died from cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and other disorders not caused by vaccination.
The death toll among those who have been vaccinated rose by 12 cases from the day before to 48 on Saturday.
The surge in deaths has prompted some doctors and politicians to call for the government’s campaign to vaccinate some 30 million of the country’s 54 million people to be halted.
While encouraging people to get vaccinated against the flu, Jeong issued the precautions they should take before receiving the vaccine, such as drinking enough water and informing health workers of any underlying medical conditions. He also advised people to wait 15 to 30 minutes before leaving the clinic where they receive the vaccine.
“If possible, try to get a flu shot in hot weather, as there is concern that low temperatures could affect cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease,” he said.
The KDCA said 9.4 million people had been vaccinated as of Friday in the program that began in September, with 1,154 cases of adverse reactions.
South Korea reported 77 new coronavirus cases as of midnight Friday, bringing total infections to 25,775, with 457 deaths. (Reporting by Heekyong Yang; Editing by Tom Hogue)
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