On September 25, 2009, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced the list of over 3,575 contracted hospitals in the nation that administer seasonal influenza vaccine funded by the government.The contracted hospitals will start administering seasonal influenza vaccine to targeted groups beginning October 1, 2009.

On the other hand, pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine is scheduled to be administered beginning November.The list of contracted hospitals administering pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine will be announced before October 25, 2009, which is expected to be similar to the list of contracted hospitals administering seasonal influenza vaccine.　　

This year, the targeted groups to receive seasonal influenza vaccine funded by the government include elderly people aged 65 and older, children aged 6 moths through 6 years, elementary school students from grade 1 through 4, people with major illness/injury, people with rare disease, residents and personnel at nursing institutes, health care and public health personnel, poultry farmers and animal health inspectors.It is the first time preschool children aged between 3 through 6 years are included in the list of targeted groups to receive seasonal influenza vaccine.

Taiwan CDC urged all targeted groups to received the influenza vaccine at the contracted hospitals promptly because people are more likely to catch influenza during autumn and winter.　All target groups can receive the vaccine at contracted hospitals upon presentation of their ID card and National Health Insurance card.Further, the vaccine for all targeted groups is funded by the government.As a result, most targeted groups only have to cover registration and diagnostic fees to receive the vaccine.Diagnostic fee for elderly people aged 65 and above to receive the vaccine is covered by the government.Elementary school students can receive influenza vaccine at school at no charge with parental consent.　
For more information concerning seasonal influenza vaccine, please visit the following website: http://www.cdc.gov.tw/english/submenu.aspx?treeid=e79c7a9e1e9b1cdf&nowtreeid=e7c06af4f99e6f3a/ or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922, or contact the local health bureau.