CDC chief hails vaccination successes

Outbreaks of influenza this year have been 80 percent less serious than those of the previous two years, showing the vaccination program implemented late last year has borne fruit, Center for Disease Control Director Su Ih-jen (蘇益仁) said yesterday.

Su said it is estimated the vaccination program will save NT$20 billion (US$606.06 million) in health insurance costs over the course of this year, which he said is well worth the NT$126 million spent on the program.

According to an assessment report Su delivered at the Legislative Yuan's Sanitation, Environment and Social Welfare Committee meeting, as of March 12, the Department of Health has targeted medical institution staff, disease prevention workers, citizens over the age of 65, and residents of old-age homes with the vaccination program.

The report showed that 271,521 medical workers, or 92.1 percent of the total of 294,864 in the country, have received flu shots.

Meanwhile, 1.42 million senior citizens, or 69 percent of the total number, and 72,996 of the 80,101 residents of old-age homes, have received shots.

Su gave the report on the influenza vaccination program at the committee meeting to highlight its effectiveness in order to secure the budget for the program for the next fiscal year.