Starting on Sept. 22, the national influenza vaccination program will begin with children who require two doses.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on Monday that it plans to begin the “2025-2026 Seasonal Influenza National Vaccination Program” from Sept. 22 to April 30, 2026. This vaccination will be provided free of charge to children aged six months to 13 years, pregnant women, and older adults 65 and older, who are at high risk of severe illness if infected, in preparation for the upcoming winter influenza season.

The vaccination will begin on Sept. 22 for children requiring two doses, followed by children requiring one dose and pregnant women on Sept. 29, and then seniors aged 75 and older on Oct. 15, with vaccinations administered in order of age group.

For the 2025–2026 influenza season, the national vaccination program will switch from the existing quadrivalent vaccine to a trivalent vaccine in accordance with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Vaccination Expert Committee.

The trivalent vaccine excludes the B-Yamagata virus antigen, which has not been detected globally for an extended period, and has been confirmed to have the same efficacy and safety as the quadrivalent vaccine.

The national influenza vaccination program is available at designated medical institutions and health centers near your residence, regardless of individuals’ registered address. There are approximately 23,000 designated medical institutions nationwide, which can be confirmed through your local health center or the Vaccination Assistance website.

To prevent incorrect vaccinations and ensure safe administration, it is necessary to bring a valid ID when visiting a vaccination facility.

“With only one month left until the start of the influenza vaccination program, we ask local governments to make thorough preparations, including vaccine supply management, training for vaccination centers, and publicity for each target group,” KDCA Commissioner Lim Seung-kwan said. “We urge those eligible for the national vaccination program to get vaccinated to prepare for the epidemic.”