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In line with central government policies, the Tainan City Government has provided publicly funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations since October 1, and has combined health coin incentives to increase vaccination rates.
2026/10/01 11:32
Publicly funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will be administered today (1st), and people will receive health coins after vaccination. (Provided by Tainan City Government)
[Reporter Hong Ruiqin/Tainan Report] Publicly funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will be officially launched today (1st). Tainan Mayor Huang Weizhe went to the Nanduli Activity Center in the Southern District to jointly announce the start of vaccination with representatives of medical institutions, and also called on eligible people Arrange vaccination according to your own time, and don’t rush to get vaccinated on the first day; this year (2026), the central government will simultaneously launch "health coins". You can get up to 900 health coins for the new crown vaccine, 450 health coins for the influenza vaccine, and 600 health coins for the pneumococcal vaccine.
Huang Weizhe said that this year, in response to the policy of "Left and Right, Protect the Lungs and Care for the Heart", the city government has prepared sufficient vaccines. If the number of people vaccinated on the first day increases, the health bureau, health clinics and related personnel will also be required to understand the status of each vaccination station, adjust vaccine supply and vaccination manpower according to demand, and do a good job in crowd control so that people can successfully complete the vaccination.
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Huang Weizhe pointed out that Tainan continues to combine the efforts of health clinics, medical institutions and communities to provide multiple vaccination services. It has also established a "Tainan Vaccination Reservation System" to facilitate citizens to inquire about vaccination information and make appointments. He called on eligible citizens to seize the opportunity to get vaccinated and build protection early.
The Health Bureau stated that this year the central government will promote "health coins" starting today. People over the age of 18 with health insurance status will receive 450 health coins for influenza vaccination, 900 health coins for COVID-19 vaccination, and 600 health coins for pneumococcal vaccination. Tainan City has also launched additional measures in conjunction with the "Tainan Health Sharing Cloud" so that people can receive health rewards while receiving vaccinations.
The Health Bureau reminds that both the influenza and COVID-19 epidemics are currently in the epidemic period, especially the influenza epidemic continues to increase. High-risk groups such as young children, the elderly, patients with chronic diseases, as well as medical personnel and front-line epidemic prevention personnel should be vaccinated as early as possible according to their vaccination qualifications to reduce the risk of severe illness after infection.
Tainan Mayor Huang Weizhe (middle left) went to the Nanduli Activity Center in Southern District today to announce that publically funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will begin immediately. (Provided by Tainan City Government)

The Taipei City Health Bureau has provided publicly funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccines since October 1. Artists have taken the lead in vaccination as health promotion ambassadors. Eligible Taipei City residents who have completed the vaccination can participate in a lottery. Prizes include iPhone 17 and other home appliances and gift certificates. The influenza vaccine is trivalent, and the COVID-19 vaccine has been upgraded to the XFG generation. The antigen dose has been reduced to 1/5 of the previous generation, and adverse reactions have been halved. Vaccination will be open to everyone in phases.

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Publicly funded influenza and COVID-19 vaccines will be available from October 1, 2026. Nutritionist Gao Minmin recommends supplementing protein, zinc, and vitamin A before vaccination, taking vitamins C, D, E, and Omega-3 after vaccination, and avoiding foods high in oil, salt, and sugar to stabilize immune cells and enhance repair capabilities.

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Wu Yifan, an attending physician at the Department of Family Medicine at Taipei City United Hospital, pointed out that it takes about two weeks after influenza vaccination to produce sufficient antibodies, and called on the public to get vaccinated as early as possible during the epidemic season or before traveling abroad to avoid the protective window period. It is also recommended that high-risk groups consider vaccination against COVID-19 and Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccines, and is reminded to seek medical advice immediately if severe symptoms occur when seeking medical treatment overseas.

Health coins have been launched since October 1. After completing publicly funded health examinations, cancer screenings and vaccinations, you can get health coins, which can be exchanged for healthy food, discounts and gifts. Register before November 30 to participate in the lottery, and the top prize is an Apple Watch.