Children and pregnant women eligible from Monday, seniors 65 and older from Oct. 6 in staggered rollout; flu vaccine coverage expanded to age 14, with new COVID-19 shots for high-risk groups
Seoul's Seongdong-gu will roll out 2026-2027 seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations for children, pregnant women and residents 65 and older in a staggered schedule, responding to an early flu season.
With this year's flu season arriving earlier than usual, the national vaccination program has been moved up accordingly. Children aged 6 months to 14 years and pregnant women became eligible Monday. The eligible age for the national flu vaccination program has been expanded from 13 to 14 this season to curb the spread of influenza among school-age adolescents.
For seniors 65 and older, the district has staggered start dates by age group to ease congestion and ensure a safe vaccination environment. Those 75 and older (born before 1951) may receive free shots at designated clinics from Oct. 6; those aged 70 to 74 (born 1952–1956) from Oct. 12; and those aged 65 to 69 (born 1957–1961) from Oct. 15.
New vaccines targeting the latest strains are also recommended for high-risk groups — including seniors 65 and older and immunocompromised individuals — given the continued risk of COVID-19 resurgence from ongoing variants. Those 70 and older and immunocompromised residents may be vaccinated from Oct. 12, while those aged 65 to 69 may do so from Oct. 15.
The 2026-2027 seasonal flu vaccine used in this program is a trivalent formulation recommended by the World Health Organization. Eligible residents may receive free vaccinations at any authorized medical institution nationwide, regardless of their registered address.
Authorized clinics within Seongdong-gu can be found on the Seongdong-gu Public Health Center website or the KDCA's vaccination information portal. Residents must bring a valid ID when visiting a vaccination site.
"Since the flu season has started early this year, it is important for high-risk groups such as children and seniors not to miss their vaccination window," Seongdong-gu District Mayor Yoo Bo-hwa said. "We encourage everyone to visit a nearby medical institution for timely vaccination and to practice good personal hygiene in daily life to stay healthy through the winter."
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