The number of deaths in South Korea after receiving influenza vaccines has risen to 48 so far, and South Korea’s Director of Disease Management Jung Eun-kyung said today (24th) that there is no direct relationship between the vaccine and the deaths, but the authorities will continue to follow up and investigate.
According to YTN, Jung revealed that 1,154 cases of adverse reactions to influenza vaccines were reported in South Korea (306 cases of paid vaccines and 848 cases of publicly-funded vaccines), of which 177 cases were local reactions at the injection site, 245 cases of allergies, 204 cases of fever, and 480 cases of other symptoms; 48 deaths were reported.
In terms of the deceased, the majority were in their 70s and 80s, including 22 in their 70s and 16 in their 80s. In addition, authorities have performed autopsies on 20 of the deceased, and a total of 13 preliminary autopsy results have been released, including 8 deaths from cardiovascular disease, 2 deaths from cerebrovascular disease, and 3 deaths from causes that require further investigation.
The panel of experts examining the causal relationship between the influenza vaccine and the deaths noted that, of the 26 cases they investigated, 6 were determined to be unrelated to the vaccine, and of the remaining 20, they concluded that the vaccine was not a factor in the deaths and that definitive autopsy results were needed to confirm the cause of death.
Therefore, the panel currently concludes that there should be no direct relationship between the flu vaccine and the death of the vaccine recipient.
Zheng emphasized that the WHO and Chinese experts recommend getting the flu vaccine if necessary, especially in high-risk groups where the benefits are greater. However, Zheng also urged that people should not rush to get the vaccine, but should get it when they are in good health, drink plenty of fluids on the day of vaccination, and inform the medical staff about their chronic illnesses and allergies.
After receiving the vaccine, it is recommended that people stay in a medical facility for 15 to 30 minutes to see if there are any adverse reactions and take safety precautions, such as taking a break on the day of vaccination to avoid overexertion.
Zheng Yinjing said that the flu vaccine may cause mild adverse reactions such as pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, as well as fever and nausea, but most of these reactions will improve within one to two days. However, if you experience difficulty breathing, hives or severe dizziness after receiving the vaccine, you should still seek immediate medical attention.
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