South Korea Considers Earlier Flu Vaccination Schedule Due to Early Spread

Influenza is spreading across the country earlier than last year, prompting public health authorities to revise their vaccination schedule.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Monday it is considering moving the vaccination start date for high-risk patients, such as children and seniors, up from Sept. 21.

"We are working to finalize the revised vaccination schedule by gathering opinions from local governments and the medical sector," the agency said during a press briefing.

The KDCA provides free flu vaccinations to newborns and children aged six months to 14 years, as well as to seniors over 65. The original plan was to vaccinate these groups in stages beginning on Sept. 21, but the earlier-than-expected flu season has prompted the agency to revise its timeline.

This year, the flu advisory was issued Friday, about a month earlier than last year’s notice on Oct. 17.

Health experts believe the early onset of this year's flu season may be linked to disruptions in typical seasonal patterns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"After the pandemic, the cycle of respiratory virus spread has changed," said Jung Jae-hun, a professor at Korea University College of Medicine, during the press briefing.

"Influenza outbreaks used to peak between December and January, but the recent cycle has shifted somewhat outside that window. Given changes in climate factors and immunization patterns, future flu cycles may also diverge from those we have seen in the past."

Lee Hyung-min, director of the KDCA's Infectious Disease Control Division, noted that similar early-arrival patterns have also been observed in Japan and China.

Health authorities stressed the importance of preventive measures, including frequent handwashing and mask-wearing, as well as early diagnosis and treatment, particularly before nationwide vaccination begins.