Updates of adult immunization in Korea

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2020;63(2):128-134
Publication date (electronic) : 2020 February 15
doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2020.63.2.128
1Department of Family Medicine, Myongji Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
2Department of Family Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Corresponding author: Byung-Wook Yoo, dryoo@schmc.ac.kr
Received 2019 December 27; Accepted 2020 February 04.

Abstract

An increase in the number of patients with infectious diseases in Korea, can be attributed to various factors, such as the prevalence of new infectious diseases of the 21st century, the re-emergence of past infectious diseases, an increase in the number of elderly individuals, patients with chronic diseases, immune deficiency, and globalization. In this context, vaccination becomes vital for the adult population. Although, the guidelines for adult immunization are currently being updated, the rate of adult vaccination remains lower than that of infant vaccination. At present, the major challenges for increasing the rate of adult immunization include negative views on the need for some immunizations and a lack of understanding of group immunity among the youth. Consequently, a successful immunization program will be required to direct efforts towards educating patients and spreading awareness. Based on the current guidelines and practical applications, varicella zoster; Japanese encephalitis; tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis; pneumococcus; measles, mumps, and rubella; and hepatitis A vaccines could effectively be considered for adult vaccination.

Notes

Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

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Article information Continued

Figure 1

Trends in annual incidence rates of legal infective diseases. CRE, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (Reproduced from Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infectious disease surveillance yearbook 2018 [Internet]. Cheongju: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2019) [2].

Figure 2

Trends in domestic pertussis incidence (2001-2018) (Reproduced from Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infectious disease surveillance yearbook 2018 [Internet]. Cheongju: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2019) [2].

Figure 3

Recommendation of adult pneumococcal vaccination. PCV13, 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; PPSV23, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Reproduced from Choi WS et al. Infect Chemother 2015;47:68-79, according to the Creative Commons license) [23].

Table 1

Caution and warning period for Japanese encephalitis and the prevalence and number of deaths due to Japanese encephalitis by year

Table 1

Data from Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web statistics system for infectious disease [Internet]. Cheongju: Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2019 [13].

a)The number of patients and deaths in 2017 is provisional statistics.