Taiwan to expand free influenza antiviral drug eligibility

Taipei, Jan. 10 (CNA) Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that it will expand eligibility for free influenza antiviral drugs from Jan. 20 to Feb. 28, as cases are forecast to rise and peak around the Lunar New Year holiday.

CDC surveillance data released earlier this week showed that 82,161 people sought medical treatment for influenza-like illnesses in the final week of 2025, roughly unchanged from the previous week.

CDC spokesperson Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said during a routine briefing at the time that influenza activity is expected to increase in the latter half of this month, with infections likely to peak around the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February.

According to the CDC, the expanded eligibility will include people with flu-like symptoms in seven high-transmission risk groups, including health care and long-term care workers, care home residents, child care providers, students, caregivers of high-risk individuals, animal industry workers, and people in other densely populated settings such as military camps.

Unlike in past years, when free antiviral drugs were expanded only after flu cases began rising, the CDC said it is acting early and recently issued guidance to medical professionals about the expanded eligibility.

The notice urged doctors to make full use of publicly funded antiviral drugs to help prevent and control influenza, and to remind patients to practice good hygiene, wear masks, observe cough etiquette, and stay home when sick.