TAIPEI (TVBS News) — This year's flu season around the Lunar New Year has been milder than previous years, owing possibly to higher flu vaccination rates and the public's continued mask-wearing, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director-General and spokesperson Philip Lo said on Thursday (Feb. 15).
Annual flu cases typically spike before and after the Lunar New Year, with the busiest emergency room traffic usually on the second day of the new year. Despite higher-than-average numbers for the past three years, this year's figures are considered mild in comparison to the period before the pandemic.
Data revealed that 6,787 people sought emergency care for flu-like symptoms on the second day of the Lunar New Year. The corresponding numbers for previous years were 4,313 in 2023, 1,564 in 2022, 2,458 in 2021, 9,240 in 2020, and 7,983 in 2019.
Lo said he would also closely watch the potential impact of large gatherings as schools reopen and travel season begins.
As for vaccine stock, there are still 82,000 doses of the flu vaccine available. In terms of COVID-19 vaccines, there are 226,000 doses of Novavax and 4.38 million doses of Moderna.
Lo urged those eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible to improve their protection.