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The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced on the evening of the 21st that the influenza (flu) vaccination plan, which was scheduled to begin with free vaccinations for elementary, middle and high school students and women pregnant women nationwide, it will be completely suspended from 22. An official from the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said: “In the process of low-temperature (cold chain) vaccine distribution, a problem was discovered that could affect quality and preventative measures were taken. ” Vaccines must be kept refrigerated from production to inoculation. However, he was exposed to room temperature while moving from one vehicle to another.
This is because part of the amount of vaccine that was intended to be inoculated in subjects between 13 and 18 years old had a problem in the distribution process. The Agency for Disease Control and Prevention decided to postpone influenza vaccination for adolescents and children under 18 years of age, starting on the 22nd, and to suspend two doses for infants and children, starting on the 8th.
However, the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention began vaccinating children who needed two vaccines on Day 8 and said the vaccine they were given was not subject to discontinuation. Since the 8th of this month, the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention has been providing free vaccinations for children 6 months to 9 years of age who need two flu shots. Subsequently, it was planned to provide free flu vaccines for elementary, middle and high school students and pregnant women, but this program was completely stopped.
Vaccination will resume after testing for stability issues. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is planning to conduct trial tests on items that are considered to have an effect on quality, as requested by the Korea Disease Services Agency for the influenza vaccine in question.
If a problem is found with the quality of the vaccine, mass elimination is also inevitable. Amid the possibility of a simultaneous influenza and coronavirus epidemic this fall and winter, the supply of vaccines could be disrupted. Vaccines are planned and delivered annually, making it difficult to obtain them in a short period of time.
In a regular briefing on the 17th, Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention President Chung said: “It took time to prepare fertilized ovules and cell culture facilities, as well as manufacturing and verification, and They will supply in February-March of next year. In the case of imports, it is difficult to secure additional supplies because most contracts are signed 5-6 months in advance. “
The number of recipients of the free flu vaccine this year is 19 million, or 37% of the total population. This is because the government has greatly expanded the number of flu vaccines in order to suppress the simultaneous corona and flu epidemic as much as possible. Vaccination will resume after safety testing conducted by the Food and Drug Administration. As the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention announced plans to stop vaccines late at night one day before the vaccination start date, there are reports of anxiety in Internet mom cafes.
