Protect your health! Publicly funded “flu vaccines” will be launched immediately to reduce the risk of serious illnesses

The second phase of the public-funded influenza vaccine was launched and will start on November 15^th, while the first phase started on October 1st. Adults aged 50 to 64 years old with no high-risk chronic diseases, the vaccination period will be in the second phase, others will be scheduled in phase 1. In addition, although influenza and the new corona virus disease are different diseases, studies in the United States have found that influenza vaccination can reduce the risk of contracting new corona virus disease by 24%, and the hospitalization rate and severe illness rate can also be reduced by more than 40%. People are urged to get the influenza vaccine.

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 Influenza vaccine can also reduce the risk of severe disease. Photo/provided by the CDC

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 疾病管制署), influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza. The average protection after vaccination is about 30 to 80%, the protection against hospitalization due to influenza is about 41%, and the protection against severe illness can reach 82%. After being vaccinated with the flu vaccine, the protection is about one year, and must be vaccinated every year, and it must be vaccinated "at least 7 days apart from the new corona pneumonia vaccination". For those who are not eligible for publicly funded vaccination but have children under the age of 12 at home, they may consider vaccinating at their own expense to improve self-protection and reduce the risk of family group infections and serious illnesses of the elderly.

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People get vaccinated against influenza to increase their protection. Photo/provided by the CDC

The CDC also reminded the public to first check their neighboring accredited hospitals through the websites of the local government health bureaus, the CDC's influenza prevention and control website (疾管署流感防治一網通), the disease manager (疾管家), or the 1922 epidemic prevention consultation hotline (防疫諮詢專線), and then call the hospitals to make an appointment to ensure that the vaccination can be implemented, and to save them time from waiting in line. Please bring your health insurance card and related documents (such as children's health handbook, maternal health handbook, etc.) when going for vaccination. Please wear a mask, maintain a moderate safe distance, and implement sanitary measures such as hand washing.