In the morning of March 17, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) convened the Influenza Control and Prevention Advisory Meeting. The meeting was presided over by the conveners of the Influenza Control and Prevention Division and the Immunization Division under the Ministry of Health and Welfare Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee, Dean Chang San-cheng (張上淳) and Dr. Lee Ping-ing (李秉穎). During the meeting, Taiwan CDC accepted the committee members’ recommendations to extend the period for the expanded use of government-funded antivirals from March 31, 2016 to April 30, 2016 and expand the target populations for the government-funded influenza vaccine depending on the amount of influenza vaccine procured for the next influenza season. The additional vaccines procured will be given in the following order of priority: people aged below 50 with chronic medical conditions and a high BMI (≥35) that are at increased risk for influenza, women who have given birth in the past 6 months, healthy adults aged between 50 and 64, and teenagers aged between 13 and 18.

As Taiwan CDC launches its free annual seasonal influenza vaccination campaign launches on October 1 every year, Taiwan CDC has invited major vaccine manufacturers to discuss the supply of influenza vaccines for the next influenza season. To ensure the successful procurement of the government-funded influenza vaccine, Taiwan CDC has been assessing the available sources of funding, including the established vaccine fund and other sources, in order to determine if there are sufficient funds to procure the needed amount of vaccine for the next influenza season and if there is a need to tap into other budgets from the Executive Yuan. On top of that, Taiwan CDC has been planning to reinforce influenza vaccination promotion activities to increase the vaccination coverage. 　

In view of the fact that influenza activity continues to persist in Taiwan, Taiwan CDC will extend the period for the expanded use of government-funded antivirals from March 31, 2016 to April 30, 2016 as an attempt to ensure all influenza patients have access to the antiviral. Simultaneously, physicians are urged to heighten vigilance for patients with influenza and promptly prescribe government-funded influenza antiviral drugs to eligible patients without the use of a rapid influenza diagnostic test in order to ensure prompt treatment, prevent further transmission of the disease, and reduce the occurrence of severe cases and deaths.

Although influenza activity has gradually declined, Taiwan CDC urges the public to remain vigilant for influenza infection, practice good personal hygiene such as washing hands frequently and putting on a mask when coughing, and avoid visiting crowded places with poor ventilation. If signs of severe complications such as shortness of breath, breathing difficulty, cyanosis, blood-stained mucus or thickening of mucus, chest pain, change of consciousness, low blood pressure or high fever that persists for more than 48 hours develop, please put on a mask and seek immediate medical attention. When necessary, please follow the physician’s instructions for taking the government-funded antivirals and rest at home. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).