“Elderly Flu Prevention, High-Dose Vaccine is the Answer”…Incheon City Council Calls for Support Resolution

A claim has been raised in the Incheon City Council that high-dose influenza vaccines should be supported at the national level for the elderly, who find it difficult to achieve sufficient preventive effects with regular flu vaccines.

Kim Jong-bae, a member of the Incheon Metropolitan City Council (People Power Party, Michuhol District 4), announced on the 1st that the resolution calling for the support of high-dose influenza vaccines for the elderly, titled ‘Resolution to Urge Support for High-Dose Influenza Vaccination for the Elderly’, has recently passed the Culture and Welfare Committee during the 306th extraordinary session.

Kim pointed out that “the vaccination rate for flu vaccines among those aged 65 and over in our country exceeds 80%, which is the highest level among OECD countries, but there is insufficient antibody formation in the elderly, leading to significant flu outbreaks every year,” and emphasized that “there are clear limitations to relying solely on regular vaccines.”

He particularly noted that while high-dose influenza vaccines have a higher preventive effect than regular vaccines, many elderly people forgo vaccination due to the financial burden. Kim stressed, “The government must include high-dose vaccines in the national vaccination programme to ensure that economic reasons do not lead to missed preventive opportunities.”

The resolution focuses on the need to prioritise support for low-income individuals and elderly recipients of basic pensions before fully introducing high-dose vaccines.

Kim stated, “The elderly are at a high risk of severe complications such as pneumonia or cardiovascular diseases if they contract the flu, and the mortality rate is also high,” adding, “As this is a matter directly related to the lives of the elderly, support for high-dose influenza vaccines is not an option but a necessity.”

Previously, during a five-minute free speech at the 305th second regular session held on November 20 last year, Kim had suggested the need for bipartisan and proactive responses to create a healthy Incheon and a flu-resistant Incheon by supporting high-dose influenza vaccines.

This resolution is scheduled to be finally voted on at the plenary session on the 12th, and if passed, it will be delivered to the Blue House, the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Korea Disease Control Agency, and Incheon City.