SHORTAGE IN FLU VACCINES

[Anchor Lead]

The government resumed its free flu shot program earlier this week after suspending it over a storage mishap in the distribution process. But the nation is reportedly running short of flu vaccines because many people are willing to even pay their money to take shots, due to growing distrust in the effectiveness of free ones. Here's more

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A pediatric clinic in Seoul. It should be packed with flu shot takers around this time. But that's not the case. Staffers are busy answering inquiry calls about the suspension of free flu vaccines.

[Soundbite] "Yes, ma'am. Vaccines are now out of stock."

This clinic already ran out of vaccines late last month.

[Soundbite] NAM SOO-JI(NURSE) : "There are plenty of vaccines for middle and high school students. Vaccines for infants or children are out of stock. So we cannot receive reservations."

A pediatric clinic having stocks of vaccines are crowded with people wanting to take flu shots.

[Soundbite] LEE JI-EUN(YANGCHEON-GU RESIDENT) : "After learning this clinic has some seven doses left, I grabbed a taxi to get here in ten minutes."

But the amount is not enough to meet the demand.

[Soundbite] "It's only for one person. I will tell you later. (Ah... you have no more vaccines?) No, no more in stock."

Due to supply shortage, some clinics and hospitals are struggling to purchase flu vaccines.

[Soundbite] KIM MYUNG-JOON(PEDIATRICIAN) : "I called more than ten pharmaceutical companies but none of them had flu vaccines. It is very frustrating."

Demand for flu vaccinations surged this year due to fears of a potential "twindemic", which means a severe flu season amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Flu vaccines are running short, with a growing number of people choosing to pay for their own flu shots as they don't trust government-provided, free vaccines.

[Soundbite] IM GO-UN(THE KOREAN PEDIATRIC SOCIETY) : "After the vaccine mishandling issue occurred, people rushed to take flu shots at their own expenses."

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to reallocate up to 15 percent of the free flu vaccines currently set aside for teenagers. It will be used for vaccinating children aged 12 or younger. In order to help address the vaccine shortage, the agency will tap into its reserves and distribute 340,000 doses to private clinics by October 16.