Dec 21, 2017 - Key Words: Korea; Influenza; Vaccination; Immunization; History. Review Article .... combined with the Integrated System for Disease Control/.
The Korean Influenza National Immunization Program: History and Present Status Jae-Won Yun1, Ji Yun Noh1, Joon Young Song1, Chaemin Chun2, Yunju Kim2, and Hee Jin Cheong1 1
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul; 2Division of Vaccine Preventable Disease Control and National Immunization Program, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong, Korea
The Korean influenza national immunization program was first established as an interim program in 1997, administering the influenza vaccine to low-income elderly adults. In 2005, the program assumed its present form of providing free influenza vaccination to adults aged ≥65 years. After turning over the influenza vaccination for elderly adults to the private sectors in 2015, the influenza vaccination coverage rate among this population increased to >80%. In addition, after the 2009 H1N1 influenza epidemic crisis, the vaccine was domestically produced. By reaching a 75% vaccination coverage rate in the target groups, it was possible to put an end to the influenza pandemic and fix the shortcomings of the system that existed at that time. The influenza vaccination program, provided free of cost, was extended to include infants aged
