Premier Sean Chen today urged the public to remain watchful against influenza and directed public health authorities to continue strengthening prevention and control measures.
The premier credited the Department of Health (DOH) for keeping flu infections low in Taiwan. According to DOH statistics, 401 fewer cases have been reported this season compared with the same time last year. Nevertheless, with the flu currently sweeping across Europe, mainland China, Japan and the U.S. (where 47 states have reported widespread outbreaks), the premier urged citizens planning to go abroad for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday to receive vaccinations. The DOH will continue to advise travelers, provide health information and monitor the situation worldwide.
Since the government launched the free flu shot program last October, the vaccination usage rate has exceeded 90 percent with 2.77 million doses already administered, the premier said. The program was expanded on January 1 to provide free vaccines to people aged 50-64 with chronic conditions. And in accordance with the Executive Yuan Council's November 8 decision, a secondary reserve fund has been deployed to subsidize clinical examination fees for preschoolers receiving inoculations. The DOH encourages all those at high risk to get vaccinated.
Regarding the recent outbreaks of norovirus, spread through respiratory secretions, the premier asked the DOH to team up with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Defense to step up promotion of personal hygiene at places where people are in close contact, including schools, hospitals, workplaces, restaurants and military units.