Taipei, Feb. 23 (CNA) Extra individuals shall be eligible to obtain a government-funded free influenza vaccine shot from March 5, amid the rising unfold of flu and COVID-19 in Taiwan, the Facilities for Illness Management (CDC) mentioned Friday.
The unfold of assorted respiratory illnesses has continued in native communities and a wave of recent flu instances is anticipated to hit Taiwan from now till early March due to the upper danger posed by college students returning to highschool after the winter break, in keeping with CDC Deputy Director Common Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) that day.
Different components embrace giant gatherings throughout the lantern pageant and non secular occasions, he added.
After contemplating the rising variety of new flu instances, the CDC has determined to supply a free flu jab to anybody who has not acquired one over the previous 5 months, beginning March 5, Lo mentioned at a CDC information convention in Taipei.
For the reason that rollout of the annual flu vaccination when the present flu season started on Oct. 1, round 6.5 million doses of the flu vaccine had been made accessible to college students, seniors and other people with increased dangers of catching the flu and growing severe signs, as of Feb. 20, in keeping with Lo.
Presently, about 70,000 flu vaccine doses are nonetheless accessible, and Lo urged seniors, the dad and mom of preschoolers and younger kids, and medical personnel to grab the possibility to get vaccinated earlier than the remaining reserve runs out.
Individuals who plan to get a flu jab ought to contact clinics or hospitals to examine availability earlier than they go to these medical establishments to be inoculated, Lo added.
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He additionally urged members of the general public to get the newest COVID-19 XBB.1.5 vaccine.
Taiwan at the moment has 4.336 million doses of Moderna’s XBB.1.5 vaccine and round 210,000 doses of Novavax’s XBB.1.5 vaccine, and new vaccines assist generate antibodies in opposition to the present dominant variant JN.1, Lo mentioned, citing analysis stories printed in the USA.
Since Feb. 20, greater than 10,000 COVID-19 doses have been administered every single day throughout Taiwan, a rebound from the decrease figures recorded throughout the latest Lunar New 12 months vacation, in keeping with Lo.
Associated Information
Jan. 5: CDC urges public to get XBB vaccine for quick altering COVID-19
Dec. 24: China-bound vacationers cautioned about unfold of influenza-like sickness: CDC