TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan will procure a record 7.05 million flu vaccine doses for the upcoming autumn and winter seasons, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 疾管署) announced Tuesday (March 31). The program carries a budget of approximately NT$1.78 billion (US$55.7 million), and the agency aims to vaccinate more than 30% of the population. For the first time, enhanced vaccines for seniors will be introduced as Taiwan officially enters super-aged society status, CDC Director Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) said.
The CDC will introduce 200,000 doses of enhanced flu vaccines, including adjuvanted and high-dose options, prioritizing high-risk groups such as seniors in long-term care and nursing facilities. These enhanced vaccines aim to improve antibody production in seniors and reduce hospitalizations for flu-related complications. The United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia already recommend enhanced vaccines for elderly populations, Lo noted.
Lo said Taiwan now adds 200,000 seniors aged 65 and above to its population annually, underscoring the importance of vaccines in alleviating pressure on the healthcare system. The enhanced flu vaccines have received domestic approval and will be provided to seniors in long-term care and nursing facilities first. Five licensed manufacturers have been invited to bid on the vaccine contract, with results expected in late April.
The CDC has updated this year's flu vaccine strains, replacing both the A and B strains in the trivalent vaccines. The A-type H3N2 now includes the prevalent K branch, while the B-type uses the Tokyo strain, aligning closely with viruses currently circulating in Taiwan. If procurement proceeds smoothly, vaccinations will be available in the autumn and winter seasons, the CDC said.