Surveillance and compensation claims for adverse reactions following immunization in the Republic of Korea, 2017

Kim Tae Eun, Lee Yeon Kyeong, Kim Min Kyung, Kim You Mi
Division of VPD Control & NIP, Center for Infectious Disease Control, KCDC

Immunization is the most effective means of preventing infectious diseases. However, the adverse reactions may inevitably occur after inoculation because of the biological nature of vaccines. These adverse reactions may not only affect the decline of vaccination rate but also incur high social costs. As part of the Korea National Immunization Program, the Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention has been operating the national immunization safety management system; securing high quality vaccines, monitoring adverse reactions, conducting epidemiological investigations of serious adverse reactions, and managing a vaccine injury compensation system. Between 2015 and 2017, 1,028 vaccine-related adverse reactions (1.8 cases per 100,000 doses) were reported; 271 cases in 2015 (1.5 cases per 100,000 doses), 318 cases in 2016 (1.6 cases per 100,000 doses), and 439 cases in 2017 (2.2 cases per 100,000 doses). Among them, there were 259 cases applications (25.2%) claiming for compensation, and after the national committee’s review and assessment for compensation claims, 149 cases (57.5%) were finally decided to be compensated (59 cases in 2015, 47 cases in 2016, 43 cases in 2017).

Keywords: Immunization Program, Vaccination, Vaccines, Safety Management, Immunization