Taipei:Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced the extension of expanded access to publicly funded flu antiviral drugs from November 15 to November 30, due to continued epidemic levels despite a decline in flu infections.
According to Focus Taiwan, the measure allows individuals in designated high-risk groups who develop flu-like symptoms to receive these antiviral drugs. Eligible groups include infection-control personnel at medical institutions, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, childcare workers, nannies, and students from preschool to senior high school. The measure also extends to those living with or caring for high-risk individuals, livestock and poultry farm workers, zoo personnel, and veterinary quarantine personnel.
The CDC's decision comes after a seven-week decline in flu activity, which has been below epidemic levels for two consecutive weeks. However, concerns about the high number of severe cases prevented the CDC from declaring an end to the flu epidemic. Last week, 91,879 individuals sought treatment for influenza-like illnesses, marking a 6.4 percent decrease from the previous week. Despite this decline, 103 new severe cases and 38 deaths were reported, totaling 645 severe cases and 124 deaths since October 1.
The CDC highlighted that 69.9 percent of severe cases involved individuals aged 65 or older, and 85.1 percent had underlying chronic conditions. Furthermore, 97.1 percent of severe cases occurred in individuals who had not received a flu vaccination for the current season. Lin Ming-cheng, a CDC spokesperson, urged eligible individuals to get vaccinated and take necessary precautions against infection.
As of November 4, over 5.5 million people have been vaccinated since the start of the publicly funded flu vaccination program on October 1. Meanwhile, COVID-19 activity in Taiwan was reported to have dropped below epidemic levels in mid-October, with infections continuing to decline. Between October 1 and November 4, 1.61 million COVID-19 vaccinations were administered.