Gyeonggi Province to Provide Free Influenza Vaccinations Starting September 20

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gab-dong] Gyeonggi Province will conduct the "2024-2025 Season Influenza Prevention Vaccination" from September 20 through April 30 next year.

Vaccination support targets include children aged 6 months to 13 years, pregnant women, and seniors aged 65 and over.

Starting September 20 with children receiving influenza vaccination for the first time in their lives, October 2 will cover children receiving their first dose and pregnant women, and October 11 will begin with seniors aged 75 and over, with vaccinations proceeding sequentially by age group.

In particular, this year as mycoplasma pneumonia, pertussis, COVID-19, and other respiratory infectious diseases are prevalent, protecting the health of high-risk groups including children, pregnant women, and seniors aged 65 and over through active preventive vaccination and blocking infection spread are important.

Additionally, for those aged 65 and over, simultaneous COVID-19 vaccination alongside influenza prevention vaccination will be promoted. The effectiveness and safety of simultaneous vaccination have been confirmed through domestic and international research, and major countries worldwide including the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan are establishing a trend of regularizing annual single-dose administration targeting high-risk populations alongside influenza prevention vaccination.

Influenza vaccination can be received at designated medical facilities regardless of residence, and nearby designated facilities can be found on the Vaccination Helper website (nip.kdca.go.kr). When visiting medical institutions, identification is required to verify vaccination eligibility and prevent duplicate vaccinations.

For those corresponding to groups such as people with disabilities and long-term care facility workers supported through influenza vaccination programs operated independently by each city and county outside national support targets, vaccinations can be received by contacting the relevant city or county office and following their guidance.

Han Jung-hee, head of the Infectious Disease Management Division, stated, "For seniors, pregnant women, and children at relatively high risk of complications such as pneumonia from influenza infection, preventive vaccination is recommended," and emphasized, "To prevent infectious respiratory diseases, compliance with personal hygiene practices such as proper hand washing and cough etiquette should be made a habit."