TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan has broadened access to M-pox vaccines for vulnerable populations as global health authorities monitor new viral variants. The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 疾病管制署), the island's primary infectious disease authority, announced Wednesday (April 9) an expanded eligibility framework for subcutaneous administration of the M-pox vaccine, specifically targeting individuals at elevated risk of infection. Health officials emphasized that the policy adjustment aims to strengthen protective measures against the virus, noting that Taiwan has recorded no new domestic cases since entering April.
CDC Spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) moved to allay potential concerns about vaccine availability, confirming that current supplies remain adequate to meet expanded eligibility requirements. The newly broadened access specifically extends subcutaneous vaccination options to several clearly defined high-risk categories, including individuals with suspected or previously documented cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, acute hepatitis A, B, or C, as well as those living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). During the announcement, Lo provided technical details about the vaccination protocols, noting that both administration methods — intradermal and subcutaneous — follow identical scheduling, requiring two separate doses administered with a minimum interval of four weeks. The spokesperson highlighted the significant difference in dosage volume between the two methods, with subcutaneous injections requiring 0.5mL of vaccine, five times the amount used in the more dose-sparing 0.1mL intradermal technique.
Taiwan's epidemiological situation remains relatively stable, with health authorities reporting just four new M-pox infections since January, comprising three locally transmitted cases and one detected in an international traveler. The most recent diagnosis occurred on March 26, marking nearly two weeks without a new confirmed case. Taiwan's cumulative M-pox burden stands at 456 confirmed infections, with genetic analysis revealing that all documented cases involve the second clade variant of the virus. The announcement comes against a backdrop of evolving global developments, as the World Health Organization (WHO) recently disclosed the United Kingdom's eleventh case of the concerning Ib clade variant. This latest international case involves a male patient in his twenties, with epidemiologists unable to identify the source of his infection — a detail that has heightened surveillance concerns.
The CDC spokesperson characterized the British case as particularly significant because it represents the first documented instance of "silent" Ib clade transmission, where infection occurs without clear epidemiological links. While Lo assessed the overall risk for widespread community or international transmission as low, he acknowledged the continuing possibility of limited transmission clusters emerging. Taiwan's proactive vaccination efforts have shown substantial progress, with the public immunization campaign having administered 169,929 doses nationwide. This total includes 95,676 individuals who have received their initial dose and 65,253 who have completed the full two-dose regimen. The island's vaccine inventory remains robust, with current stockpiles comprising 18,000 vials — sufficient for approximately 50,000 individual doses — and long-term storage viability assured through an expiration date extending to late 2027.