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Among the recent deaths of unknown cause, some have had an underlying illness, Korean health authorities said.
Currently, 25 South Koreans have died from seasonal flu vaccines, prompting many doctors to call for the campaign to end.
However, South Korean health authorities said they found no direct link between the deaths and the seasonal flu vaccine. This vaccination campaign is free for 19 million youth and seniors.
The Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said among those who died was a 17-year-old teenager.
Korea operates a large-scale seasonal influenza vaccination campaign. Photo: Yonhap / Epa
KDCA Director Jeong Eun-kyeong said: “The number of deaths has increased, but we found that the deaths were less likely to be related to injections.”
South Korea has been ordering more flu shots this year to prevent a “double pandemic” – the risk of a person contracting the flu developing complications from the coronavirus and crowded hospitals in winter.
Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said: “I understand and am sorry that people are concerned about vaccines.” However, he confirmed that the free program will continue to work.
“We are analyzing the cause and will reexamine the entire process that the different agencies are involved in, from production to distribution,” Park announced.
Vaccine providers include national companies and a French company. They participate in both free and paid services, which aim to vaccinate some 30 million people out of a population of 52 million. All previous units declined to comment on the issue.
The Korean Medical Association, a group of influential doctors, has called on the government to halt all immunization programs, alleviate public concerns and ensure vaccines are safe.
However, health authorities explained, a preliminary investigation of the six deaths did not find any direct link to the vaccine, nor was any toxic substance detected.
One goes to get vaccinated in Seoul. Photo: Reuters
According to the KDCA data, at least 7 of the 9 cases analyzed have an underlying disease.
The free immunization program has been controversial since it began last month. The campaign was suspended for three weeks after discovering that around 5 million doses were kept at room temperature rather than refrigerated as needed.
Authorities say 8.3 million people have been vaccinated since the program resumed on Oct. 13, with about 350 cases with adverse reactions.
The highest number of deaths in South Korea related to seasonal influenza vaccination was 6 in 2005. However, authorities say that comparison with previous years is difficult, as this year there are many users. vaccines that.
Or yen (Follow Reuters)
