The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announces that the number of the remaining seasonal influenza vaccine doses is less than 30,000.As of now, Changhua County, Taitung County, Taichung City, Keelung City and Yilan County have used up the entire amounts of seasonal influenza vaccines they have been allotted.Taiwan CDC once again urges people who need the vaccine to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect their own health and the health of their family.

It is estimated that more than 99% of the allotted seasonal influenza vaccine have been administered to adults.Besides the aforementioned five cities and counties, Nantou County, Kaohsiung City, New Taipei City (formerly known as Taipei County), Hsinchu County, Tainan City and Jiayi County have used up more than 99% of their allotted seasonal influenza vaccines. In addition, about 61% of the 0.25mL pediatric influenza vaccine have been administered.Children who have never received influenza vaccine are recommended to receive two doses of the 0.25mL pediatric influenza vaccine to induce protective immune response.Taiwan CDC advises parents to get their children vaccinated against seasonal influenza early before the supply runs out.

Taiwan CDC once again urges the public to get vaccinated against seasonal influenza promptly as the number of influenza cases and consultation rate for influenza-like illness (ILI) continue to increase and most of this year’s dominant influenza virus strains match the vaccine virus strains.If symptoms such as shortness of breath, breathing difficulty, blood-stained mucus or thickening of mucus, chest pain, change of consciousness, high fever that persists for more than three days, low blood pressure or severe gastrointestinal symptoms develop, please seek medical advice immediately.Further, as the seasonal influenza vaccination campaign is coming to a close and the vaccine supply is running out, the public is advised to contact the contracted hospital administering the vaccine to check on the vaccine supply prior to visiting the hospital for vaccination.

For more information concerning seasonal influenza vaccination and prevention, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website: http://www.cdc.gov.tw/ or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922.