On October 20, 2009, the 31st meeting held by the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) was convened by the Vice Premier of the Executive Yuan, Li-Luan Chu.Novartis was invited to the meeting to report details concerning the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine supply. In addition, the administration protocol for the vaccine was discussed and decided at the meeting.According to CECC, the first batch of 370 thousand pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine produced by Novartis will arrive at Taoyuan International Airport on October 22, 2009.After the batch of vaccine has passed through customs, it will be shipped to local health bureaus in cities and counties in the nation.The schedule for administering the Novartis pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine is as followed: 1.People who are affected by Typhoon Morakot and currently stay in emergency shelter will receive immunization beginning on Sunday, November 1, 2009, 2 Front-line health care personnel will receive immunization beginning on November 2, 2009, and 3. Infants aged above 6 months and below 1 year will receive immunization beginning on November 9, 2009.Beginning November 16, 2009, if the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine produced by Adimmune Corporation has been approved for use, pregnant women, preschool children aged between 1 through 6 years, and people with major illness/injury will receive immunization simultaneously.Starting on December 1, 2009, students from elementary school, middle school, and high school will receive immunization at school and the immunization process is expected to complete before final exams and the winter vacation. The other targeted groups will receive immunization as other batches of vaccine are received.The immunization process for the first eleven targeted groups on the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine priority list is expected to complete before Chinese New Year on February 14, 2009 and a total of 12 million vaccines will be administered to maximize herd immunity and reduce the risk of transmission during the period of heavy travel

CECC will announce the locations for receiving the vaccine a week prior to the scheduled immunization date.Parents of infants who are scheduled to receive immunization on November 9, 2009 will be contacted by the local health bureau about the location to receive the vaccine.If the parent has not been contacted by the local health bureau, please bring the infant along with the infant’s ID card, National Health Insurance card and child healthcare handbook to the designated location to receive immunization.

It is expected that the number of people to receive immunization beginning on November 16, 2009, including pregnant women, preschool children aged between 1 through 6 years and people with major illness/injury, will be higher than that of the preceding targeted group who have received immunization before them,The number of contracted hospitals that will provide administration of the vaccine will also be higher than that of contracted hospitals administering vaccine for the preceding targeted groups.CECC stressed that the public does not need to panic about the immunization process and urged the public to receive immunization according to the schedule announced by the government.

The immunization of the pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccine is free of charge and voluntary. According to polls announced by CECC earlier, about 60% of Taiwan’s population is willing to receive the vaccine.