Check Who Is Eligible and When for the 2026-2027 Season COVID-19 Vaccine

What changed in this year's national COVID-19 vaccination?

In its September 17, 2026 press release, the KDCA said it has moved COVID-19 vaccination, which had been run as a temporary vaccination, to a required vaccination. The reasoning is that high-risk groups such as older adults still face a high risk of hospitalization, severe illness, and death, so they need to keep up with the shots regularly, as with influenza.

The aim of this season's vaccination is to prevent severe illness and death. It announced a single annual dose of the new vaccine, with immunocompromised people completing the series with 2 doses.

Who is eligible, and when does vaccination start?

The groups and periods announced by the KDCA are below. First find which row you and your parents fall under, using the date of birth.

Infection-vulnerable facilities are nursing hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, shelters for homeless people, and residential facilities for people with disabilities. For immunocompromised people and inpatients or residents under 12, the vaccine is still going through the introduction process, and the KDCA said it will announce the schedule separately.

How should people in their 40s and 50s check?

Ordinary adults in their 40s and 50s who are not in the table were not announced as eligible for this national vaccination. Immunocompromised people 12 and over, however, are included with no upper age limit. For varied situations, such as immunocompromised people under 12 or stem cell transplant patients, the KDCA advised getting vaccinated after consulting a doctor.

Immunocompromised people were told to present supporting documents such as a diagnosis or a medical opinion. If the vaccinating doctor judges you to be immunocompromised, though, it said you can get vaccinated without supporting documents.

Can you get it together with the flu shot?

People 65 and over are eligible for both the influenza and COVID-19 national vaccinations. The KDCA says both vaccines can be given at the same visit and recommends visiting a facility just once to get them together.

This year's influenza vaccination for older adults was announced to start on October 6 for those 75 and over, October 12 for ages 70 to 74, and October 15 for ages 65 to 69. Before you go, check availability on the Vaccination Helper website or with your public health center.

How do you find a vaccination site, and what should you bring?

You can be vaccinated at any nearby designated medical institution or public health center, regardless of where you live. The KDCA advised first checking the institution and availability under Vaccination Management, then Find Designated Medical Institutions, on the Vaccination Helper website (nip.kdca.go.kr).

When you go, bring documents to confirm eligibility, such as an ID, a resident registration certificate, or a National Health Insurance card. After the shot, it advised staying at the vaccination site for 20 to 30 minutes to watch for adverse reactions, and then going home to rest well.

When should you contact a medical institution?

The timing and number of doses can vary with underlying conditions, the medications you take, whether you are immunocompromised, and your earlier vaccination history. Ask the doctor treating you or the vaccination site about questions on your personal situation. If you are worried about how you feel after the shot, follow the vaccination site's guidance and contact a medical institution. Decisions about individual vaccination are up to your doctor.