COVID Still Leading Cause of Respiratory Hospitalizations for Seniors (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — With less than three weeks since the launch of the 2025-2026 seasonal vaccination campaign, select medical facilities in South Korea report a shortage of COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed to seniors, raising concerns over preparedness ahead of the influenza season.
On October 15, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) opened the immunisation programme for individuals aged 65 and older, immunocompromised persons aged six months and above, and residents or patients of long-term care facilities.
The campaign allows for simultaneous administration of the COVID-19 vaccine and the influenza vaccine. According to the agency’s director-general Im Seung‑gwan, the elderly “should receive the newly developed vaccine effective against the recent variant” and were advised to take advantage of simultaneous administration for convenience.
Despite these measures, reports from some clinics in Seoul’s Songpa district indicate that seniors arriving for joint vaccination have been turned away when the COVID-19 vaccine run out. “Since last week, older patients have been unable to receive the COVID-19 shot and must wait for additional supply,” a clinic official said.
Earlier this year the government secured 5.3 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, based on last year’s uptake. On October 20 the KDCA announced that the current season’s vaccination rate started four percentage points higher than the same period in 2024, signalling increased demand and potential supply strain.
Some public-health experts warn that even a one-percentage-point rise in uptake can tip supply into shortfall. With more seniors opting for both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines this year, and the influenza season already under a heightened alert, analysts caution that vaccine shortages could worsen in November and beyond.
Data from the KDCA’s weekly surveillance report show COVID-19 remains the leading cause of respiratory-illness-related hospitalisations for those aged 65 and older.
Professor Lee Jae‑gap of Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital said the early vaccination window is crucial: “It is important to secure immunity for the elderly before full-blown respiratory-disease season by administering both influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. Supply must match demand in time or the golden window will be lost.”
The shortage comes amid broader concerns about winter dual-epidemics of COVID-19 and influenza — so-called “twindemic” risks — and adds urgency to calls for agile and flexible vaccine-distribution management to ensure all high-risk individuals are covered.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
