South Korea denies that the flu shot has had more than 100 deaths

South Korean health authorities have confirmed that the deaths of more than 100 people were not caused by the seasonal flu vaccine, according to the British newspaper “Telegraph”.

The government launched a campaign last September to vaccinate some 30 million people against the flu this year to avoid an outbreak of the disease in the winter during the Corona pandemic.

Reports that 108 people died shortly after receiving flu shots have raised safety concerns among doctors and citizens.

According to the Korean news agency Yonhap, the Korean Agency for Disease Control and Prevention said that an investigation showed that there was no link or cause between the flu shot and death.

An autopsy found that some of the deceased had cardiovascular and other serious illnesses that could be responsible for their deaths.

The agency stressed that there is no need to reconsider vaccine approval or the suspension of the government’s vaccination program.

In an effort to avoid overloading its healthcare system with multiple disease outbreaks, Seoul plans to vaccinate 19 million people for free, especially children, pregnant women and the elderly.

Concerns about flu vaccine safety have increased, especially since most deaths are in their seventies or eighties, yet the government has continued its flu vaccination program.

A group of doctors had asked to stop the vaccination campaign to calm citizens’ fears and ensure the safety of vaccines, however, so far more than 13 million people have received flu shots.

South Korea has requested more flu vaccines this year to avoid developing complications in the light of the Coronavirus crisis, to avoid burdening hospitals on their capacity during the winter season.

Last month, Health Minister Pak Nyung-ho confirmed the vaccination program will continue and said he understood people’s concern about the vaccine and the ministry is looking into the causes of deaths and the vaccination process they participate in. various government agencies, from manufacturing to distribution.