KDCA Announces Autumn Seasonal Influenza and Booster Vaccination Campaign

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) officially announced the rollout of its 2026 autumn seasonal influenza and respiratory illness vaccination campaign, prioritizing vulnerable demographics and expanding access nationwide.

What Happened

KDCA unveiled the comprehensive national immunization schedule utilizing quadrivalent influenza vaccines. Free vaccination programs are provided for high-risk groups including children aged 6 months to 13 years, pregnant women, and senior citizens aged 65 and older. Registered foreign residents enrolled in the National Health Insurance (NHI) system are fully eligible under the same terms as Korean nationals.

Key Details & Schedule

• Vaccinations will be administered across more than 20,000 designated medical clinics and public health centers nationwide starting mid-September.
• Residents can locate participating facilities and verify available vaccine inventory via the official immunization portal at nip.kdca.go.kr.
• Identification including the Alien Registration Card (ARC) or resident card is required at clinic registration.

What This Means for Residents & Visitors

Seasonal influenza activity typically peaks between late autumn and winter across the Korean peninsula. Health authorities strongly recommend getting vaccinated before late October, as antibody protection takes approximately two weeks to fully develop. Foreign residents seeking language assistance or clinic guidance can contact the 1339 KDCA call center or the Danuri multilingual helpline at 1577-1366.