Vaccination for children heading into middle school gets less attention at home than it did in primary school. The results of the verification programme released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on 22 September 2026 show that 77.2% of middle school entrants had completed their mandatory vaccinations, against 92.0% of primary school entrants. Even after the checking period ended, nearly one child in four had not finished the required shots. This article is based on the KDCA press release and Annex 1 of the "Standards and Methods for Vaccination", both checked on 18 October 2026, and sets out what to look at in the vaccination record before middle school starts.

What the 77.2% and 92.0% figures mean

According to the release, completion rose by 8.6 percentage points among primary school entrants and 12.5 percentage points among middle school entrants during the verification period from March to May. That is how many more children finished their shots after schools and public health centres urged them to.
The KDCA commissioner asked students who have not yet finished to visit a nearby designated clinic within this year, talk with the medical staff and complete the vaccination. It is only October, so there is still time to check before the year ends.

Schools and public health centres check for 90 days after entry

This check has run since 2001 under Article 31 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and Article 10 of the School Health Act. The KDCA and the Ministry of Education, together with local governments and schools, confirm for 90 days after entry whether primary and middle school students have completed the mandatory vaccinations, and urge those who have not to get them.
In most cases no extra paperwork is needed when the records are already in the system, and you can confirm them in the national Immunization Registry (nip.kdca.go.kr).

Middle school entrants are checked on three vaccines

Primary school entrants are checked on four vaccines (DTaP, IPV, MMR and Japanese encephalitis), while middle school entrants are checked on three: Tdap (Td), Japanese encephalitis and HPV for girls.

• Tdap (Td): tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, at age 11 to 12
• Japanese encephalitis: a booster at age 12 if the inactivated vaccine was used
• HPV: human papillomavirus, two doses at age 12 to 14

Tdap is the last booster, given at age 11 to 12

Annex 1 sets the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis schedule as follows. Three primary doses are given at 2, 4 and 6 months, and three boosters at 15 to 18 months, 4 to 6 years and 11 to 12 years. The one that falls around the start of middle school is the final booster at 11 to 12.
Children who cannot receive a pertussis-containing vaccine can be given a Td vaccine licensed for that age instead. A doctor decides whether that applies.
It is worth remembering that the target group for this item is written as "children aged 12 and under". Whether support continues after age 12 cannot be assumed from this standard alone, so if the dose was missed, ask your public health centre first.

For Japanese encephalitis, the type of vaccine matters

There are two kinds of Japanese encephalitis vaccine. With the inactivated vaccine, two primary doses are given one month apart at 12 to 23 months, followed by boosters at 24 to 35 months, at age 6 and at age 12 (recommended). The live attenuated vaccine is complete after one dose at 12 to 23 months and a second dose 12 months later, and the table has no age-12 booster for it.
Check the vaccine type in your child's record first.

HPV can be completed in two doses at age 12 to 14

The standard HPV schedule in Annex 1 is two doses at 0 and 6 months for ages 12 to 14 and three doses at 0, 2 and 6 months for ages 15 to 26. Starting after age 15 raises the number of doses to three.
Support covers girls aged 12 to 17, and from 2026 it also covers 12-year-old boys born in 2014. Government guidance describes the quadrivalent HPV vaccine given in two doses six months apart. Stock differs from clinic to clinic, so phone ahead to ask whether they have it. For boys in later years, check the KDCA announcement.

The winter break before middle school is the right time to check

Because HPV needs two doses six months apart, the first dose has to be given in the winter before entry for the second to fall in the summer. With the post-entry check running from March to May, it is more relaxed to look at the record during the break than to rush afterwards.
To check, look up your child's vaccination history on the KDCA Immunization Registry (nip.kdca.go.kr). If the record is wrong, ask the clinic that gave the shot or the public health centre to correct it. The principles for catching up on missed shots are in missed vaccinations and catch-up schedules.
While you are at the clinic, also note that the flu vaccine is now available up to age 14, as set out in the free flu vaccine period for children, and absence because of a fever is covered in absence for influenza counts as attendance.

Order of steps and where to check

1) Look up your child's Tdap, Japanese encephalitis and HPV records in the Immunization Registry. 2) If a dose is missing, phone a clinic to confirm it has the vaccine and book. 3) For HPV, note the six-month interval after dose one in your calendar. 4) If the record is wrong, ask the clinic or the public health centre to correct it. 5) For support after age 12, ask the public health centre.
Sources are the KDCA press release of 22 September 2026, Annex 1 of the "Standards and Methods for Vaccination" and the government welfare portal's HPV guidance. Which vaccine is needed and when depends on each child's health, and this article does not replace a doctor's judgement. Always talk with a paediatrician before vaccination.