The Korean Influenza National Immunization Program: History and Present Status

Yun, Jae-Won; Noh, Ji Yun; Song, Joon Young; Chun, Chaemin; Kim, Yunju; Cheong, Hee Jin

In 1997, free vaccination for elderly adults was available only at public health units, which resulted in long waiting periods, inconvenience, and safety issues. Thus, to improve the accessibility, convenience, and safety of influenza vaccination, the NIP began to commission influenza vaccination to private health sectors in the 2015-2016 season [15] . As a result, the overall influenza vaccination rate among elderly adults aged ≥65 years increased from 73% to 80.9%, when compared to the 2014-2015 season. In particular, the influenza vaccination rate increased in elderly adults aged ≥85 years by approximately 13% (from 56.1% to 69.3%) [16] . Thus, the transition to private health sectors has been a fairly successful strategy in the improvement of influenza vaccination rates and safety of elderly adults aged ≥85 years, who are less likely to access group vaccinations through public health units (Fig. 1) .