Bill for vaccinating 'shingles for elderly·HPV for males'

at no cost

The Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Park Heeseong announces the bill…"Alternatives are needed after the Yoon Suk Yeol government's candidacy pledge has fallen through"

The Democratic Party of Korea Rep.

 

issues a bill

The Democratic Party of Korea is pursuing changes to the law to expand the free-of-charge vaccination program, requiring the government to cover the costs of shingles vaccines for adults 65 and above and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for males below 17 years.

 

Given that the Yoon Suk Yeol government's pledges during the candidacy to expand the National Immunization Program (NIP) to include shingles and HPV vaccines fell through, the National Assembly aims to implement this with the legislation to protect national health.

 

On March 4, the Democratic Party of Korea Rep.

 

Park Heeseong announced the bill to make partial revision to the 'Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act.' Rep.

 

Park Heeseong pointed out that the government made a candidacy pledge to provide shingles vaccinations for adults aged 65 and above and HPV vaccines for boys aged 12 and above.

 

However, it was not included in the government budget, suggesting that the pledge has fallen through.

 

Rep.

 

Park Heeseong said that shingles vaccinations have high preventative effects, but since they are still non-reimbursed, this poses a substantial financial burden for individuals facing cost differences.

 

Rep.

 

Park Heeseong highlighted that HIP infection is part of the NIP, but the law limits the range of free-of-cost vaccination to females aged 12 or between 12 and 26.

 

Rep.

 

Park Heeseong believes that the government is not implementing vaccination despite proven evidence, including cost-effectiveness and disease burden, for introducing single vaccinations for older people free-of-cost and HPV vaccinations for males at no cost.

 

Therefore, Rep.

 

Park Heeseong drafted a bill to add shingles vaccination to the NIP and expand the HPV vaccination NIP to include males.

 

The bill newly added·established Clause 18 to Article 24 of the NIP to include 'shingles.' The bill amended the current law to include a new 'Article 24-2 on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection vaccination.' The bill's amendment details that the mayor of a special self-governing city, governor of a special self-governing province, or the mayor·governor·head of Gu is now required to administer HPV vaccinations through local public health centers for females aged 26 or younger and males aged 17 or younger, as a measure to prevent HPV infection.

 

Additionally, the bill's amendment to Article 64 (expenses paid by special self-governing provincess, cities, Gun, and Gu) now includes HPV vaccination.

 

This change establishes the basis for local governments to cover vaccination costs, ensuring that patients can receive the vaccine free of charge.