South Korea opened its 2026–2027 influenza national vaccination program to seniors aged 65 through 69 on Thursday, the last age band in a staggered rollout that began with 75-and-older residents in early October.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is simultaneously encouraging eligible seniors to receive Covid-19 boosters during the same clinic visit, citing overlapping appointment windows for the 70–74 and 65–69 cohorts starting Oct. 12 and Oct. 15 respectively.
Who qualifies now
Anyone born in 1961 or earlier may receive a free trivalent inactivated flu shot at designated clinics and public health centers nationwide through April 30, 2027. The 65–69 group waited until Oct. 15 so supply could be staged after higher-risk brackets, a schedule KDCA adjusted earlier this autumn when early flu activity appeared.
Children six months through 14 years and pregnant women have been eligible since September, with more than 1.14 million pediatric doses administered by early October. Expanding teen coverage to age 14 is new this season, aimed at slowing school outbreaks that spill into multigenerational homes.
Co-vaccination push
KDCA briefings emphasize co-administration because overlapping respiratory seasons strain hospital beds. Seniors in the 70–74 bracket can take flu and Covid shots on the same day; the 65–69 flu window aligns with Covid eligibility that also opened Oct. 15 for that age slice. Immunocompromised patients may start earlier after consulting physicians.
Officials stockpiled 8.89 million flu doses and 4.84 million Covid vaccines for seniors, shipping vials to clinics on a rolling basis to avoid the shortages that delayed rural areas last winter.
Practical guidance
Residents should verify participating providers on the agency's vaccination portal before visiting walk-in centers, which can close when daily quotas fill. KDCA asks patients to stay 20–30 minutes for observation and to postpone shots when febrile.
With the Kospi swinging and holiday travel approaching, health authorities want high-risk groups protected before Lunar New Year crowds. A same-day flu-and-Covid visit is optional, but for many seniors it is the simplest way to clear two checklist items before family gatherings resume.
Pharmacies in Seoul's Gangnam district reported hour-long waits on Thursday as 65-year-olds queued on the first eligible day. Rural clinics asked patients to book by phone after cold-chain deliveries arrived midweek.
Travel agencies reminded customers that some destinations still require proof of recent respiratory vaccination, adding another reason seniors combine flu and Covid shots before overseas trips rebound this winter.
KDCA will publish weekly uptake dashboards on its portal; epidemiologists want pediatric rates above 30 percent before November to blunt school clusters. Parents who missed September windows can still catch up without penalty.