South Korea is vaccinating millions of people against seasonal flu to alleviate any problems with COVID-19.
At least 13 South Koreans have died after receiving flu shots in recent days, according to official and local media reports, despite authorities denying this and raising concerns about vaccine safety as global efforts to find a vaccine against COVD-19 intensify. Accelerated.
Health officials said Wednesday that there were no plans to suspend the immunization program for about 19 million people as there was no direct link to the drug they received after a preliminary investigation into the six deaths.
“The death toll has risen, but our team is leading to death with a low probability,” Jeong Eun-kyong, director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), told parliament.
South Korea has ordered 20 percent more flu vaccines this year that people with potential COVID-19 complications developed from the flu and people in overburden hospitals during the winter call “twindimic.”
On Thursday, Health Minister Park Neung-hue said, “I understand and regret that people are concerned about the vaccine, while confirming that the free program will continue.”
He added, “We are looking into the reasons but will re-examine the whole process involving various government agencies from product distribution to distribution.”
The deaths, including a 17-year-old boy and a man in his 70s, occurred on October 13, a week after the resumption of the vaccination program for adolescents and senior citizens.
No toxins were found in the vaccines and at least five of the six people examined had underlying conditions, officials said.
‘Restless’
The inoculation program was suspended for three weeks after about five million doses, which need to be refrigerated, were exposed to room temperature while being transported to a medical facility.
The South Korean vaccine comes from a variety of sources.
Manufacturers include GC Pharma, SK Biosciences and Il-Yang Pharmaceutical Co., along with Sanofi of France and GlaxoSmithKline of Britain. Distributors include LG Chem and Boring Biopharma, a unit of the boring firm.
GC Pharma, LG Chem, SK Bioscience and Boring declined to comment. Il-Yang Pharmaceutical, Sanofi and GSK could not immediately be reached for comment.
South Korea has increased its seasonal vaccination program this year to avoid any potential pitfalls as a result of the Covid-19 complications.
With more than 25,500 cases of coronavirus reported in the country, the disease is prevented by strong contact-testing and testing regime and physical distance measures, as the world rushes to develop an effective vaccine against the disease.
Officials said 8.3 million people have been vaccinated against the flu since it resumed on October 13, with about 350 cases of adverse reactions reported.
It is also offering a paid vaccination program, which, in conjunction with the free program, aims to ensure that 30 million of the country’s 52 million population are inoculated. Under the paid program, buyers can choose a vaccine provider from a large pool of manufacturers.
Kim Myong-suk, 65, who qualifies for the vaccine fee, said a growing number of people preferred to pay.
“Although a few people have died so far, the number is rising and it makes me uneasy,” he told Reuters news agency in Seoul. “So I’m getting a shot somewhere else and I’ll pay for it.”
In 2005, according to the Yonihapp News Agency, the highest number of deaths associated with seasonal flu vaccinations was six. Officials say it is difficult to compare previous years as the number of people vaccinated this year is higher.
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