Osan City Provides Free Essential Vaccinations

Osan City Health Center (Director Kim Dong-hwi) has decided to provide full financial support for national essential vaccinations administered at contracted medical institutions for children aged 12 and under (born on or after January 1, 1999) with addresses within the city starting this year.

According to the health center, there are a total of 10 types of nationally required vaccinations available for support: BCG (intradermal), Hepatitis B, DTaP, IPV, DTaP-IPV, MMR, Japanese encephalitis (inactivated vaccine), varicella, Td, and Tdap.

Starting this year, guardians of vaccination-eligible children can receive free vaccinations by visiting one of the 31 contracted vaccination medical institutions nearby with their health insurance card and child health record book.

Additionally, information about contracted vaccination medical institutions can be found on the Vaccination Helper website (http://nip.cdc.go.kr) and smartphone apps (search for '예방접종' or '예방접종 도우미' on the Android Market or Apple App Store and download for free).

A health center official stated, "In an era of low birth rates, supporting vaccination costs at clinics and hospitals will help create a childbirth-friendly environment and reduce the economic burden on citizens, and we expect it will contribute to improved vaccination rates and better health outcomes for infants and young children."