Taipei, Oct. 8 (CNA) Since launching the nation’s annual free influenza vaccination program at hospitals and other medical facilities across the country on Oct. 2, Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Sunday said inoculations hit 1.1 million shots in the first six days.
Speaking with CNA, CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑惠) said as of Saturday, Taiwan had administered 1,104,214 of 6.98 million free vaccination shots — 107,683 more than the 996,531 administered during the same period last year.
Tseng explained that due to the fact flu cases traditionally increase in November, peaking over the winter before declining in March, the government provides annual free flu jabs in October as the effect of the vaccines does not take effect until after approximately two weeks.
As such, Tseng implored members of the general public who qualify for the free inoculations to get the shots as soon as possible.
The vaccination program is being implemented in two phases, currently starting with minors 6 months old to senior high school level; seniors aged 65 and over; medical workers; people with high-risk, chronic, rare or serious diseases or severe injuries; pregnant women; parents of babies under 6 months old; and employees at preschools and childcare centers.
In this first phase, the free vaccines will also be available to nursing home residents and workers; medical and public health personnel; people working in the poultry or livestock farming sector; and animal quarantine personnel.
Meanwhile, when the second-phase rollout of the flu vaccine begins on Nov. 1, people aged 50-64 will be eligible to get a free shot, according to the CDC.
According to the CDC on Oct. 3, flu cases continued to climb for the sixth straight week, while cases of respiratory infection remained high over the previous three weeks.
