ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Annual vaccination for influenza is globally recommended for some prioritized groups due to its high morbidity and mortality. Until 2019, South Korea has provided free influenza vaccination to children aged ≤12, adults aged ≥65, and pregnant women to enhance vaccination coverage. In 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, free flu vaccination was temporarily broadened to adults aged 62-64 and children aged 13-18. We analyzed the trends in influenza vaccination coverages in South Korea and evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of the free vaccination policy on influenza vaccination coverage. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with nationwide survey data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). We evaluated the trends in influenza vaccination coverages of target populations from 2010 to 2020. Influenza vaccination coverages of children aged 13-18, adults aged 62-64, and adults aged ≥65 were compared between 2019 and 2020. RESULTS: In total, 72,443 individuals were analyzed. From 2019 to 2020, with the expansion of free influenza vaccination and the COVID-19 pandemic, the vaccination coverage of children aged 13-18 increased from 27.8% to 43.5% (P<0.001) but that of people aged 62-64 showed insignificant change from 57.4% to 51.5% (P = 0.266). Furthermore, the vaccination coverage in adults aged ≥65 declined from 87.2% to 79.1% (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: In 2020, along with COVID-19 outbreaks, a decline of influenza vaccination coverage in older adults was observed regardless of free immunizations. It is likely due to behavioral changes to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This is supported by a greater reduction of influenza vaccination coverage in regions with higher COVID-19 outbreaks, as well as by South Korea's high medical accessibility and highly congested medical facilities. To sustain a high level of vaccination coverage of high-risk population during epidemics, additional efforts beyond free vaccination policies should be implemented.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Influenza Vaccines , Influenza, Human , Child , Humans , Female , Pregnancy , Aged , Vaccination Coverage , Nutrition Surveys , Influenza, Human/epidemiology , Influenza, Human/prevention & control , Cross-Sectional Studies , Pandemics/prevention & control , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , Vaccination , Policy , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , Influenza Vaccines/therapeutic useABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Little has been studied to promote aviation health in South Korea. The aim of this study was to analyze the results of aviation medical examinations conducted in South Korea over the past 5 yr and, in doing so, provide evidence for establishing a health promotion, disease prevention plan.METHODS: Subjects of the study consisted of applicants who underwent aviation medical examinations from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020.RESULTS: Over the past 5 yr, the total number of aviation medical examinations in South Korea has shown an annual increase of more than 10%. In the presence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the number of aviation medical examinations, both renewal and initial, for all types of licenses, except renewal aviation medical examinations for the ATCL, decreased. Disqualification rates were generally higher in initial examinations than in renewal examinations. The examination results for license renewal showed the ATPL disqualification rate to be the highest at 3.5 per 1000 pilots per year in their 50s, with cardiology cases being the most common reason for disqualification, followed by ophthalmology cases and psychiatry cases. Diagnostic categories for those disqualified after initial aviation medical examinations were similar, though ophthalmological causes were most common, followed by cases of psychiatry and neurology.CONCLUSION: Main causes of disqualification in airmen and air traffic controllers were identified as the presence of cardiovascular, ophthalmic, and psychiatric diseases. The results of this study provide evidence for improving health promotion activity plans to manage risk factors of such diseases for aviation workers.Kim JS, Han BS, Kwon YH, Lim J. A 5-yr analysis of aviation medical examinations in South Korea. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2022; 93(6):499-506.