South Korean Cell-Based Flu Shots Ship to the Southern Hemisphere

A South Korean vaccine and biotech company announced today that it has shipped its self-developed influenza vaccine to countries in the Southern Hemisphere ahead of the arrival of the new flu season.

SK bioscience confirmed on March 12, 2025, that it has begun shipping SKYCellflu to Southeast Asia and Latin America markets. A total of 750,000 doses will be supplied to countries in these markets in the first half of 2025.

SKYCellflu is the world's first cell culture-based influenza vaccine to obtain WHO Prequalification.

SK bioscience's advanced technology offers key advantages over traditional egg-based production. For example, there is a reduced risk of viral mutations during manufacturing, which results in better strain matching with circulating viruses. Additionally, cell culture technology allows for a shorter production timeline, enabling faster response during outbreaks or pandemics.

This shipment marks the company's second export of influenza vaccines for Southern Hemisphere use, following its initial export to Thailand in 2024. Although Thailand is geographically located in the Northern Hemisphere, it follows both WHO's flu vaccination guidelines for the Northern and Southern Hemispheres due to its north-south span.

About 100 million flu shots were distributed in the United States for the 2024-2025 influenza season.