To better understand the immune status for different disease, particularly endemic infectious diseases in Taiwan, of all age groups in the population in order to provide important references in formulating new or improved immunization policies, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has planned to conduct a long-term immunity tracking studies in 2012.

Previously, similar studies or investigations have mostly been undertaken partially.No periodic, consistent or long-term studies have been conducted. As a result, the number of relevant and accurate references for determining the immune status of the population has been insufficient.Hence, Taiwan CDC devised a plan to conduct a long-term immunity tracking study to determine the immune status of all age groups in the population, and the results of this study will be integrated with the national survey of the changes in nutrition and health status of the population in Taiwan conducted regularly since 1993.The long-term immunity tracking study will be conducted every five year, thus reducing the cost of resources, including the cost of people, equipments and others for collecting specimens and blood samples.Through tracking the immune status for various infectious diseases in the population consistently and periodically, appropriate immunizations policies can be formulated timely.

According to Taiwan CDC, immunization rates in Taiwan have been high for many diseases, including hepatitis B. As the vaccination coverage rates for vaccine-preventable diseases in Taiwan remain stable at high levels, the occurrence of those diseases has been drastically decreased. Some diseases have been brought under control, and some have been eliminated and even eradicated.With the existing National Immunization Information System (NIIS) storing immunization records and comprehensive disease surveillance systems in place, the implementation of the long-term immunity tracking study will facilitate effective integration analysis of immunization data, disease surveillance data and seroprevalence data. Further, the study will also help formulation of evidence-based and cost-effective immunization policies and effective disease control policies, ensuring new immunization policies meet the future needs of the country.