CDC doubles the number of flu vaccines, free flu shots given to those over 50

Описание: The flu outbreak continues to spread with the number of flu deaths topping 100. The Centers for Disease Control plans to double the number of flu shots available to the public, rising from 3mn to 6mn. The age of those who qualify for a free flu shot will also be lowered from 65 to 50. To prevent the flu outbreak from spreading, high risk groups including children and the elderly over the age of 65 are eligible for free flu shots. Last year, Taiwan administered a trivalent flu vaccine that covered 2 types of influenza A and 1 type of influenza B, resulting in flu resistance of between 50 to 80 percent. This particular flu season has seen more than 1,000 severe flu cases. Some 90 percent of patients did not receive a flu shot.Huang Li-minNTU Pediatrician DirectorA new virus is coming out of Asia, so this area will be the first to be affected by this new flu virus. As more people get the flu vaccine, the number of severe flu case will be reduced.The Centers for Disease Control plan to double the number of vaccines this year from 3mn to 6mn doses. The CDC will also lower the age of those who qualify for a free vaccine from 64 to 50. This newly expanded program will lead the CDC to nearly double its annual spending on flu vaccines which was some NT$320mn last year. Kuo Hsu-sungCDC Director-General In the future we will pursue quadrivalent flu vaccines. But, for the moment we are budgeting for the use of trivalent vaccines.In addition to needing more funds to pay for more vaccines provided to the public, CDC Director-General Kuo Hsu-sung also believes a long-term fund is needed to battle such diseases.