Osan City Health Center Provides Free Live Vaccine Immunization for Japanese Encephalitis

Osan City Health Center (Director Wang Young-ae) announced on the 3rd that it will begin providing free preventive immunization for Japanese encephalitis live vaccine starting from the 10th.

Previously, the Japanese encephalitis live vaccine was not included in the national immunization program, requiring guardians to bear the full cost of 80,000 won for two doses. However, through amendments to Ministry of Health and Welfare guidelines, residents can now receive immunization benefits for a total of 12 vaccines (18-26 total doses) including Japanese encephalitis live vaccine, BCG, hepatitis B, and IPV at health centers and designated medical institutions regardless of residential registration.

Live vaccines are manufactured by attenuating the activity of viruses or bacteria that cause disease, allowing the body to produce only antibodies. While the Japanese encephalitis inactivated vaccine requires three primary doses and two booster doses, the Japanese encephalitis live vaccine is completed with two primary doses, significantly reducing the number of immunizations needed.

Immunization with Japanese encephalitis live vaccine is available year-round from the 10th onward. The health center accepts visitors until 3 p.m., and designated medical institutions can be visited after confirming their operating hours.

Related information about the 12 national immunization targets including Japanese encephalitis live vaccine and designated medical institutions offering immunization can be found on the Immunization Helper website (http://nip.cdc.go.kr) or the Osan City Health Center homepage.

For further inquiries regarding free Japanese encephalitis live vaccine immunization, please contact the Osan City Health Center Immunization Division (031-8036-6047, 6061).