Free influenza vaccination extended to children up to age 14 — phased by group from September 21
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (질병관리청) said the national influenza vaccination programme for the 2026–2027 season will be carried out from September 21, 2026 to April 30, 2027 for children, pregnant women and older people aged 65 and over. From this season the supported age range for children widens from 6 months–13 years to 6 months–14 years, so children born between January 1, 2012 and August 31, 2026 are covered. Vaccination proceeds in sequence according to the schedule for each group. From September 21, vaccination begins for children who need two doses of influenza vaccine and for pregnant women. Those requiring two doses are children aged 6 months or older and under 9 years who have no previous vaccination record or who have received only one dose of the vaccine. Single-dose vaccination for children aged 6 months to 14 years who are not in the two-dose group begins on September 28, and people aged 65 and over can be vaccinated in sequence by age band, starting with those aged 75 and over on October 12. This national vaccination programme uses a trivalent (3가) influenza vaccine containing all of the virus strains recommended by the World Health Organization. Those eligible can be vaccinated free of charge at a nearby designated medical institution or public health centre regardless of their registered address. The roughly 23,000 designated medical institutions nationwide can be checked by asking the local public health centre or by using 'Find a designated medical institution' under the 'Vaccination management' menu of the Vaccination Helper website (예방접종도우미). COVID-19 vaccination for people aged 65 and over is carried out on the same schedule, and simultaneous administration of the influenza and COVID-19 vaccines is recommended. Enquiries: Immunization Management Division, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (질병관리청 예방접종관리과), 043-719-8365.
Key facts
| Vaccination period | September 21, 2026 – April 30, 2027 (the 2026–2027 season) |
|---|---|
| Who is covered | Children, pregnant women and older people aged 65 and over — free vaccination |
| Wider age range for children | 6 months–13 years → 6 months–14 years (born January 1, 2012 – August 31, 2026) |
| Starts September 21 | All children aged 6 months to 14 years and pregnant women, regardless of the number of doses required (revised by the September 16, 2026 announcement — previously only children needing two doses and pregnant women started on September 21) |
| Revised schedule for older adults | Age 75 and over October 6, ages 70-74 October 12, ages 65-69 October 15 (revised by the September 16, 2026 announcement — previously October 12, starting with those aged 75 and over) |
| Where to be vaccinated | A nearby designated medical institution or public health centre regardless of registered address (about 23,000 designated medical institutions nationwide) |
Last checked:
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (질병관리청) said the national influenza vaccination programme for the 2026–2027 season will be carried out from September 21, 2026 to April 30, 2027 for children, pregnant women and older people aged 65 and over. From this season the supported age range for children widens from 6 months–13 years to 6 months–14 years, and vaccination proceeds in sequence according to the schedule set for each group.
Background — why this change
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (질병관리청) explained that from this season it is widening the supported age range for children to 6 months–14 years in order to curb the spread of influenza among school-age adolescents. KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan (임승관) said, "Influenza vaccination is a highly effective means of reducing hospitalisation and death from influenza among children, pregnant women and older people and of lowering the disease burden," and added, "As support under the national vaccination programme has been extended to age 14 from this season, we ask parents for their interest and participation so that school-age children and adolescents can be vaccinated on schedule." This national vaccination programme uses a trivalent (3가) influenza vaccine containing all of the virus strains recommended by the World Health Organization, and COVID-19 vaccination for people aged 65 and over is carried out on the same schedule. Please check the KDCA's official guidance for detailed eligibility and schedules.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
Is my child covered by free vaccination?
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (질병관리청) said it is widening the supported age range for children this season from 6 months–13 years to 6 months–14 years. Children born between January 1, 2012 and August 31, 2026 are covered.
When can vaccination be received?
Start dates differ by group. From September 21, vaccination begins for children in the two-dose group (aged 6 months or older and under 9 years with no previous vaccination record or only one dose) and for pregnant women; from September 28, single-dose vaccination begins for children aged 6 months to 14 years who are not in the two-dose group. People aged 65 and over are vaccinated in sequence by age band, starting with those aged 75 and over on October 12, and the overall vaccination period runs until April 30, 2027.
Where can vaccination be received free of charge?
Those eligible can be vaccinated free of charge at a nearby designated medical institution or public health centre regardless of their registered address. The roughly 23,000 designated medical institutions nationwide can be checked by asking the local public health centre or through the 'Find a designated medical institution' menu under 'Vaccination management' on the Vaccination Helper website (예방접종도우미). Enquiries: Immunization Management Division, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 043-719-8365.