Winter flu cases increase...Children and pregnant women should be vaccinated

The Agency for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) recommends early vaccination for children and pregnant women who have not yet been vaccinated as there are many patients with cold (influenza) symptoms.

In particular, children between the ages of 7 and 12 are more likely to show symptoms of influenza.

Influenza symptoms include a sudden fever of 38℃ or higher along with a cough or sore throat.

Pregnant women are at high risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight when infected with influenza, so vaccination is essential. In addition, it is known that pregnant women have a higher hospitalization rate and mortality (5 times) when infected than general patients, and an increased possibility of miscarriage.

Vaccination, which is provided free of charge by the state to children and pregnant women, can be administered at a nearby public health center or designated medical institution regardless of address and can inquire public health center for designated medical instituion or check at vaccination NURIGIP(http://nip.kdca.go.kr)

Citing domestic and foreign research data, the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention said, "If a pregnant woman is vaccinated against influenza, the incidence of influenza is reduced by 36 to 70%, and the newborn is also effective in gaining immunity against influenza.

Ji Young-mi, head of the Agency for Disease Control and Prevention, urged, “As the influenza virus epidemic is reaching its peak and the epidemic is expected to continue until spring, children and pregnant women should not think it is too late and get vaccinated even now.”