In alignment with the central government, Kaohsiung City is to start the influenza and COVID vaccination today (October 1). This year, the city has procured a total of 790,000 government-funded influenza vaccines, offering free vaccination for seniors aged 65 or above and nursing home residents in the first stage. As the influenza season has arrived and the prevalent virus strains differ from year to year, receiving influenza vaccination becomes the best way to prevent flu and related complications, and death. DOH reminded those who are eligible for government-funded vaccination to get a shot as soon as possible to ensure the best protection against the disease. In addition, DOH has also planned the “Receive Vaccination, Enter Lucky Draw” event to encourage high-risk groups including seniors and young children to get the shot. Those who have received the vaccination may win grand prizes such as 50-inch smart TV in a lucky draw.
For promoting and urging vaccination, DOH specially held the influenza and COVID vaccination kick-off press conference “Influenza+COVID Vaccines, for Health and Well-being” today at the Social Affairs Bureau’s Senior Citizens’ Service Center. DOH Director-general Huang Joh-jong, Deputy Director-general Wang Jen-hsin of CDC Kaohsiung-Pingtung Regional Center, medical representatives from Kaohsiung City Medical Association, Kaohsiung County Medical Association, and Kaohsiung City Clinics Association attended the conference to jointly call for early vaccination of those eligible for government-funded vaccination, so that they develop sufficient protection before the upcoming influenza peak in the fall/winter. They also have their sleeves rolled up to demonstrate receiving vaccination together with senior and child representatives.
Director-general Huang of DOH warned that influenza has more severe symptoms than common cold and requires longer time to recover; it would likely lead to complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, myocarditis in severe cases, or even cause death. CDC statistics showed that 58% severe cases in last year’s (2024) influenza season were seniors above 65 years old, and nearly 80% of the severe and fatal cases had not received influenza vaccination. Therefore, receiving vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza, severe condition, and death. Citizens eligible for government-funded vaccination should go to the 600+ contracted medical care institutions or community vaccination centers throughout the city immediately to receive vaccination.
This year’s government-funded vaccination is to be administered in two stages from now on, and the vaccination schedule and targets are similar to last year. Targets of the first-stage vaccination include the following 11 categories: senior citizens aged 65+, indigenous citizens aged 55+, nursing home/long-term care (service) attendees, preschool children from 6 months old until entering elementary school, patients with potential diseases (including high-risk chronic patients, those with BMI≧30, patients of rare or catastrophic diseases), pregnant women, parents with babies under 6 months old, medical personnel and disease control-related personnel, elementary school to senior/vocational high school/five-year junior college Year 3 students, kindergarten staff and home-based childcare personnel, and animal health inspection-related personnel. The second-stage vaccination starts from November 1 for additional targets including non-high-risk adult chronic patients aged 50 to 64.
Furthermore, DOH held the “Receive Vaccination, Enter Lucky Draw” event to encourage senior citizens and young children to get vaccination. Senior citizens aged 65 or above and young children between 6 months and 6 years of age who have their household registration in Kaohsiung City would enter the lucky draw with chances of winning useful gifts such as 50-inch 4K smart TV, vacuum cleaner, oven, and multi-functional cooker if they receive the government-funded influenza or COVID vaccination before the end of November this year.
DOH stresses that people only gain protection two weeks after receiving vaccination, and thus urges those who are eligible for government-funded vaccination to go to the 600+ contracted medical care institutions or community vaccination centers in the city as early as possible to finish the vaccination. Citizens are also advised to call the contracted institutions in advance for appointment to avoid visiting in vain. For details about the contracted medical care institutions and community vaccination centers for Kaohsiung City government-funded influenza and COVID vaccination, as well as vaccination-related information, please refer to the “Latest News” (https://gov.tw/jyn) on the DOH official website.