Life-Course Immunization in Republic of Korea: Economic Case and Financing Solutions

This brief, produced by ThinkWell with funding from Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, makes the economic case for expanding life-course immunization in the Republic of Korea. It examines the country’s aging population, rising healthcare and welfare pressures, gaps in adolescent and adult vaccination, and the economic and health value of broader vaccine access. The brief also proposes three financing solutions to support sustainable immunization expansion: diversifying the National Health Promotion Fund revenue base through a sugar-sweetened beverage tax, channeling carbon revenues into public health priorities, and piloting capped copayment models for selected adult vaccines at the local level.

Key insights

• Vaccine-preventable diseases continue to impose substantial health and economic burdens in Korea, particularly among older adults.
• Important adult immunization gaps remain, including for RSV, herpes zoster, and broader pneumococcal protection.
• Modelling evidence cited in the brief suggests expanded adult vaccination could prevent infections, hospitalizations, deaths, and future cancer burden.
• Life-course immunization could also generate healthcare savings, productivity gains, and broader economic benefits.
• The brief proposes three financing approaches to support expansion: a sugar-sweetened beverage tax, use of carbon revenues, and local capped copayment models.

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