South Korea faces influenza vaccine shortage amid early outbreaks

South Korea is facing a shortage of influenza vaccines due to a combination of early flu outbreaks, changes in WHO vaccine strains, and delays in global production and supply. This shortage has led to supply imbalances where some medical facilities face stockouts while others hold excess inventory.

In response to the scarcity, public hospitals like Seoul Northwest Hospital have resorted to emergency private contracts to secure supplies, despite facing increased costs and budget pressures. The hospital reported purchasing vaccines at higher unit prices to ensure continuous service for citizens.

The Korean Pediatric Association has proposed several measures to mitigate the crisis, including a temporary policy allowing the transfer of vaccine stocks between medical institutions with local health center approval. The association also urged authorities to improve supply transparency by announcing weekly delivery schedules and adjusting allocation formulas to account for children requiring two doses.