Publicly funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will be available across the country simultaneously on October 1, and Taichung City will provide two doses of masks.

Publicly funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will be launched simultaneously across the country tomorrow (October 1). Elderly people over 65 years old in Taichung City will receive a box of masks as a gift if they go to health centers to receive both vaccines at the same time. (Photo by reporter Cai Shuyuan)

[Reporter Cai Shuyuan/Taichung Report] The influenza epidemic is still at a high point! Publicly funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will be launched simultaneously across the country tomorrow (October 1). Eleven groups from 6 months to 18 years old and seniors over 65 years old are the first phase of publicly funded vaccinations. Taichung City will provide 823,250 doses of vaccination. This year, seniors over 65 years old will go to 30 health clinics in the city to receive influenza and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time. If they complete both vaccinations at the same time, they will receive a box of masks as a gift. The quantity is limited. It is recommended that elders "left the flow and the right" to improve their health protection in autumn and winter.

According to statistics from the Health Bureau, there have been a total of 1,673 cases and 334 deaths of severe influenza complications nationwide since the last influenza season (October 2025-September 2026). Among them, a total of 202 severe cases of influenza and 41 deaths have occurred in Taichung City. In addition, there were 20,464 influenza-like outpatient and emergency visits in Taichung City, and the epidemic is still at a high point.

Taichung City has prepared 823,250 doses of influenza vaccine this year, including 801,250 doses of publicly funded standard influenza vaccine for citizens to vaccinate, and 22,000 doses of booster influenza vaccine. Priority will be given to care recipients over 65 years old and staff in nursing homes and long-term care institutions in the city.

The Health Bureau pointed out that since the elderly are at high risk of severe illness after being infected with influenza and COVID-19, vaccination is an important measure to prevent severe illness. In order to encourage the elderly to seize the opportunity for vaccination, starting from October 1, elders over 65 years old who complete the influenza and COVID-19 vaccination at the same time at various district health centers in the city will receive a box of masks as a gift.

This year's publicly funded standard influenza vaccines are from 5 manufacturers, including Sanofi, Guoguang, Toyo, Hi-End and GlaxoSmithKline, and the enhanced ones are from Sanofi and Toyo. The vaccine distribution follows the principle of "first arrival, first distribution, first use". Designated brands are not accepted. Vaccination centers will provide vaccination services on a random basis based on vaccine supply.