Second Round of Free Flu Vaccinations Starts on Nov. 1 公費流感二階開打 CDC與賣場共催打氣

The government rolled out the second stage of its flu vaccination program on Nov. 1. In this phase, people aged 50 to 64 without preexisting health conditions are eligible for a shot. 

Many people came to the hypermarkets for flu vaccination and they can each receive a bottle of water and some locally produced bananas for free. Authorities see this as an opportunity to promote local fruits. 

Mr. Lai, Flu Vaccine Recipient: “I'm here for the vaccines. I think it helps to boost protection during winter times.”

Ms. Gu, Flu Vaccine Recipient: “I'm afraid the viruses are very contagious during the latest wave. I've never taken flu shots before; this is my first time.”

The second round of free flu vaccinations started on Nov. 1. People aged 50 to 64 with no high-risk or chronic diseases are eligible. In the past, people under this age bracket showed the least interest in receiving flu vaccinations. In 2021, national statistics show that only 13.4 percent under this age bracket received flu shots, the lowest in the past five years. This year, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) set up flu vaccination stations at 80 hypermarkets to encourage people to come and get vaccinated.

Chou Jih-haw, Director General, Centers for Disease Control: “We hope that everyone can make the effort as well to come and get their flu shots, especially people under this age bracket since they are the breadwinners of their families.”

The CDC said the influenza rates have gone up within communities recently, especially Influenza A. With Taiwan now opening up its borders, health authorities predict 2022 to be a bad year for flu and estimate that the peak would fall around Lunar New Year time. All in all, flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu. There are about 6.3 million government-funded flu shots. So far, over 3.7 million shots have been taken.

上午不到9時，就有不少民眾到大賣場接種流感疫苗，還可以免費領取一瓶礦泉水和一串香蕉。打疫苗不僅可提升保護力，也用行動力挺在地蕉農。

接種流感疫苗民眾賴先生說：「來施打疫苗，我想有助於冬天提升自己的保護力。」

接種流感疫苗民眾顧女士則表示：「我是怕說這一波的傳染力很強，因為我沒有打過（流感疫苗），這是第1次。」

今年公費流感疫苗第2階段從11月1日起開打，對象是50到64歲無高風險慢性病的健康民眾。由於往年50到64歲年齡層的流感接種率最低，尤其去年接種率僅有13.4%，為近5年來新低，因此疾管署今年再度和賣場合作，在全台80個門市設置接種站，呼籲民眾打疫苗。

疾管署署長周志浩呼籲：「我們希望大家一起努力，把這個族群的施種率拉高，因為這個族群，畢竟是我們家庭最主要的支柱。」

疾管署表示，近期國內社區流感病毒活動度上升，以A型流感為主，加上我國邊境開放，預估今年是流感大年，高峰期會落在明年農曆春節前後。而預防流感最有效的方法就是打疫苗，今年公費共採購630萬劑流感疫苗，至今已接種371.9萬劑。