Taiwan to buy record 7.05 million flu vaccines for free annual program

Taipei, March 31 (CNA) Taiwan plans to buy a record 7.05 million influenza jabs for its annual publicly-funded vaccination campaign, including 200,000 enhanced vaccines for seniors in residential care facilities, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.

Speaking at a weekly press conference, CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said Taiwan saw high demand for flu vaccines last year, when it purchased a total of 6.865 million doses.

To reduce the burden of severe flu cases on Taiwan's medical system this fall and winter, the CDC has decided to purchase a record 7.05 million doses of trivalent flu vaccine, providing coverage for around 30 percent of the population, Lo said.

The purchase, with an estimated budget of NT$1.78 billion (US$55.52 million), is expected to be finalized in late April, he added.

Lo said Taiwan would again be purchasing trivalent vaccines for the fall flu season -- meaning vaccines that protect against three influenza strains (two A and one B).

What is different this year is that the World Health Organization has updated all three viral strains to be included in the shots, including the subclade K of the influenza A (H3N2) family, which became prevalent in Taiwan last fall, Lo said.

Also for the first time this year, Lo said, the CDC's free flu vaccination program will include 200,000 enhanced vaccines.

The roughly 170,000 seniors aged 65 and above in residential care facilities in Taiwan will have priority in receiving an enhanced vaccine, while the remainder will be used as needed, Lo said.

Taiwan's annual publicly-funded flu vaccination campaign typically kicks off in October, with eligibility initially limited to seniors, young children and other high-risk groups, which is then gradually expanded.