Although COVID-19 vaccination has been integrated into the national essential immunization program for the current season, vaccination rates among South Koreans aged 65 and older remain significantly lower than those for seasonal influenza.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the COVID-19 vaccination rate for the elderly reached 34.2% as of November 4, which is less than half of the 71.1% uptake recorded for influenza vaccines as of November 5. This low participation is a recurring issue; during the 2025–2026 season, the influenza vaccination rate for those 65 and older reached 78.9%, while the COVID-19 rate stalled at 41.9%.
This trend of low uptake persists despite data indicating that COVID-19 poses a greater health burden than seasonal influenza for the elderly population. A cohort study conducted in Denmark between May 2022 and June 2024 found that, even after the transition to the endemic phase, the annual hospitalization rate per 100,000 people aged 65 and older was 768.85 for COVID-19, compared to 175.20 for influenza.
Most notably, the number of deaths within 30 days of hospitalization per 100,000 people in this age group was 91.73 for COVID-19, which is 5.24 times higher than the 17.32 recorded for influenza. Hospital surveillance data from the 36th week of this year (August 30 to September 5) showed that those 65 and older accounted for approximately 60% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations.
While the government began providing free national essential vaccinations in mid-October for high-risk groups—including seniors, immunocompromised individuals, and residents of long-term care facilities—medical professionals warn that social vigilance has declined following the end of the international public health emergency.
Clinical data supports the safety and efficacy of current options, including the Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine, which is updated to target circulating variants. More than half of the participants in this study were 65 or older, with a median age of 66, and many suffered from underlying conditions or immune deficiencies. Additionally, a 2024–2025 study of 894,560 Danish residents over 65 confirmed that mRNA vaccines targeting the JN.1 variant prevented hospitalizations and deaths.
For the 2026–2027 season, the vaccine utilizes a new formula targeting the currently circulating XFG variant. The vaccine received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on August 4.
Research has confirmed the safety of receiving COVID-19 and influenza vaccines simultaneously, allowing individuals to complete both vaccinations during a single medical visit.
