SEOUL, Oct 27 (NNN-YONHAP) – South Korea’s health authorities, decided yesterday, to continue its flu vaccination programme across the country, as suspected deaths after getting flu shots were found to have very little link to inoculation.
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), said, there was very little possibility for any link between flu vaccination and deaths, noting that, it will continue its nationwide flu vaccination programme.
A total of 59 people, mostly in their 70’s and 80’s, have died, after receiving flu shots this year. The number of those who have reported side effects was 1,231.
An investigation into 46 deaths found no direct link to the inoculation, while a probe into the remaining 13 deaths was underway.
Out of the total deaths, no case has been relevant to anaphylaxis shock, or a fatal allergic reaction from vaccination.
The government is pushing for a free flu inoculation programme, to vaccinate about 19 million people, including the elderly and teenagers.
Out of 14.68 million flu shots the people received this year, 9.68 million flu shots have been given under the free vaccination programme.
The programme came, as a part of efforts to prevent the so-called “twindemic” of COVID-19 and flu, during the winter influenza season.
Public concerns recently mounted here over the safety of flu vaccines, as some of vaccine vials for the free vaccination programme were exposed to room temperature while being transported.
The health authorities said, there was no safety issue, as the exposure time was short.– NNN-YONHAP
