Under South Korea's National Immunization Program (NIP), foreign nationals who fulfill the same priority requirements as Korean nationals are eligible for free seasonal flu injections.
18 necessary vaccinations, including those for tuberculosis, diphtheria, polio, measles, and mumps, are available for infants and early children under Korea's vaccination program.
Furthermore, adult vaccinations consist of pneumococcal and flu injections for those 65 years of age and above, typhoid fever and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) vaccines for those at high risk of exposure, and hepatitis B doses for expectant mothers.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations are also provided under the program to low-income women (18–26 years old) and girls (12–17 years old). The COVID-19 booster shot is not covered by the NIP, however it is still free for those 65 years of age and older and those in high-risk categories.
However, due to a lack of resources available in languages other than Korean, foreign nationals frequently encounter difficulties obtaining comprehensive information regarding these free or partially subsidized vaccinations.
Although the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) maintains an English website, it mostly offers technical data pertaining to immunizations for children.
This limitation leaves other eligible groups, such as adults, seniors, and high-risk individuals, without clear guidance regarding their vaccine eligibility and the locations where they can obtain them.
To assist, a guide has been compiled based on the latest KDCA guidelines for the NIP, addressing critical aspects of vaccine eligibility for all residents, regardless of nationality or immigration status.
One important rule to note is the three-month residency requirement; all residents, irrespective of nationality or health insurance enrollment, are eligible for vaccinations after living in Korea for over three consecutive months.
The current annual vaccination program offers free flu shots to children aged 13 and under, pregnant women, and adults aged 65 and older, with a phased rollout for each group.
At local public health centers, or "bogeonso" as they are known in Korean, or at specific medical facilities involved in the NIP, eligible individuals can obtain free immunizations by presenting their residence cards.
The KDCA website does have a list of collaborating clinics, although it is mainly in Korean, which may be a hurdle for non-Korean speakers.
For parents of newborns, it is advised to sign up for text alerts regarding vaccination appointments and requirements while filling out the screening questionnaire.
This service is accessible in 12 languages, including Cambodian, Chinese, English, Filipino, Japanese, Lao, Mongolian, Nepali, Russian, Thai, Uzbek, and Vietnamese.
Not every foreign resident has a residency card. This is particularly true for people who may not have been granted one because they are in the country illegally, have overstayed their visa, or are on diplomatic (A-1), official (A-2), or treaty (A-3) visas.
Thankfully, temporary management numbers for immunization can be issued by public health clinics in Korea, enabling individuals lacking identification to obtain essential immunizations.
People must visit a nearby public health clinic and provide basic personal information, including name, date of birth, address, and phone number, in order to receive a temporary management number.
Prior to October 2021, foreign nationals living abroad without proper identification had to show proof of employment in order for their immunization eligibility to be confirmed.
In recognition of the fact that greater vaccination rates are generally beneficial to public health, this criterion was waived in order to promote greater vaccine coverage.
For the 423,000 estimated foreign nationals who are unregistered in South Korea, a figure that accounts for 16.9% of all foreign residents, this inclusive strategy has had substantial consequences.
Access to medical treatments has long been hampered by financial hardships and concerns about disclosing their unregistered status, despite the fact that all inhabitants have a legal right to critical vaccinations.
According to a 2020 survey by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, 32 out of 100 parents who did not have legal immigration status said they had neglected to get their children essential medical care, mostly because of financial limitations and a fear of having their status discovered.
Many residents and healthcare providers remain unaware of the free universal vaccination program, leading to eligible individuals missing out on essential vaccinations.
A December 2023 report by Yonhap News highlighted an incident where a public health center incorrectly denied a free flu shot to an unregistered child, insisting on seeing the parent’s registration card.
Numerous local governments, support groups, and nonprofit organizations have started their own vaccination campaigns targeted at inhabitants without legal immigration status in order to address these issues; these campaigns, which primarily focus on children, have been launched.
During the COVID-19 epidemic, these efforts became especially important as overburdened public health clinics found it difficult to continue regular immunization procedures.
A collaborative effort including 62 hospitals around the country assisted in giving 426 vaccinations to kids without proper visas between May 2021 and April 2022.
The government took a more proactive stance after the relaxation of pandemic limitations in May 2023, supporting multilingual public awareness efforts regarding vaccinations through a variety of outlets.
Since then, neighborhood associations and nonprofits have taken the initiative to improve unregistered residents' access to vaccines, guaranteeing that everyone may receive these necessary shots.
