TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control said Tuesday that 101,100 people sought emergency room treatment for flu-like illness last week, a 7.5% decrease from the previous week.
New flu cases in emergency departments have remained below the epidemic threshold for two consecutive weeks, indicating the wave has passed, the CDC said at its weekly press conference. Thirty-eight new severe influenza cases and seven deaths were reported.
The agency cautioned that flu activity is still rising in neighboring Asian countries, Europe, and the US. Officials predict Taiwan could see a resurgence in cases in late November.
To date, 5.45 million doses of influenza vaccine have been administered. The CDC warned that some counties and cities may exhaust their vaccine supply by early December and urged high-risk groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
CDC Spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said COVID cases have also declined, though severe infections and deaths continue to occur, primarily among adults over 65 or people with chronic illnesses. About 90% of these patients had not been vaccinated, she said.
Tseng noted that adverse reaction rates for COVID vaccines are roughly three cases per 100,000 doses, similar to influenza vaccines, with no significant difference in safety. Moderna’s mRNA vaccine was made available in October, and the Novavax JN.1 vaccine will be offered beginning Nov. 12. People aged 12 and older may choose either option.
High-risk groups are advised to receive both the flu and COVID vaccines as early as possible to reduce the chance of severe illness or death.
CDC physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) said it takes about two weeks after vaccination to develop adequate protection and encouraged eligible individuals to take advantage of government-funded vaccination programs.
The CDC urged the public to seek immediate medical care if they develop symptoms such as difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, cyanosis, bloody sputum, chest pain, or low blood pressure.
This year, approximately 4,400 contracted vaccination sites are available nationwide. Retailers such as PX Mart and Carrefour have also set up vaccination stations at selected stores. The public can check locations and appointment availability at the website or call the CDC’s 1922 hotline.
