Flu and COVID-19 Spread Simultaneously Ahead of Vaccination Schedule

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COVID-19 and the flu are currently spreading simultaneously. With vaccinations yet to begin, concerns over the spread are growing.

Reporter Jeong Banseok has the details.

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A mother holding her 6-month-old child visited a hospital in Seoul.

Following her eldest child, an elementary school student, her third child has also contracted the flu.

[Jang Yeon-hee / Guardian of a 6-month-old infant: My children and I have never missed a single vaccination every year, but this year we hadn't gotten vaccinated yet because it wasn't time. I'm so flustered that the flu hit suddenly like this.]

During the fourth week of last month, suspected flu patients reached 13.3 per 1,000 outpatients, more than double the figure from the same period a year ago.

For elementary school students, the figure stood at 36.5 per 1,000, nearly three times the average across all age groups.

The incidence of influenza has been unusually increasing since the end of August, and the flu is also spreading in countries like Japan and China.

While the exact cause has not yet been identified, the reopening of schools is believed to have contributed to the spread.

[Bang Seung-jun / Pediatrician, Our Children's Hospital: The number of flu and COVID-19 patients has already been increasing significantly since August. With the overlap of children returning to school in September, patient numbers are surging....]

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to issue an epidemic advisory as early as today (the 11th).

This is the earliest since 2009, when the H1N1 influenza was prevalent.

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients also increased from 61 to 109 over the span of a week, raising concerns over a simultaneous epidemic.

[Park Wan-beom / Professor of Infectious Diseases, Seoul National University Hospital: Because it can spread simultaneously with COVID-19, it seems necessary to get vaccinated against both COVID-19 and the flu as early as possible.]

Flu vaccinations will begin on the 21st for children and pregnant women, and from the 12th of next month for those aged 65 and older.

Since it takes two weeks for antibodies to form, the virus could spread further during the Chuseok holiday.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency urged the public to get vaccinated as quickly as possible according to the schedule and to follow personal hygiene practices such as handwashing and wearing masks.

(Photo courtesy of Ha Ryung, Video Editing: Yoon Tae-ho, Design: Kim Han-gil)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.