Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/09/30
By: Chen Wei-ting and Lee Mei-yu

Taipei, Sept. 30 (CNA) A free influenza vaccination program will be launched Thursday for children, the elderly and other people in high risk groups, in a preparation for the flu season, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Wednesday.

The government has purchased approximately 3.16 million doses of flu vaccine, which will be made available free of cost to people over the age of 65, children six months to the six-grade school student, patients aged 50-64 with high-risk chronic illnesses, the CDC said.

People aged 50-64 who work on animal farms or in animal disease prevention will also be eligible for the free flu shot, the CDC added.

The trivalent flu vaccines purchased by the government were recommended by the World Health Organization and provide protection against the influenza A (H3N2), A (H1N1), and B viruses, according to CDC Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥).     [FULL  STORY]