Self-paid flu vaccines in short supply in Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/10/21
By: Chang Ming-hsuan and Lilian Wu

Taipei, Oct. 21 (CNA) Taiwan is facing a serious shortage of flu vaccines for people who do not qualify for free vaccinations, with some people in central and southern Taiwan told that they may have to wait until December to get shots.

The shortage, however, does not affect the supply of publicly-funded flu vaccines for those who are most at-risk, including elderly people.

Due to the flu outbreak at the end of last year, the Centers for Disease Control this year allowed more people to be eligible for publicly-funded vaccines, and the doses it is offering under the program also has been increased to 6 million from the original 3 million.

Since the start of the government-funded vaccination program on Oct. 1, some 2.52 million shots have been used, 1 million doses more than last year.     [FULL  STORY]