The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday urged people in high-risk groups to receive seasonal flu vaccination shots, which will be offered free of charge for children and the elderly starting on Friday.
The CDC has purchased 2,979,000 flu shots this year, including vaccines against A(H1N1) influenza, which was widespread last year.
CDC Deputy Director-General Chou Jih-haw (周志浩) said the government funded flu vaccinations would be available free of charge to high-risk groups, including children older than six months but younger than grade four students (which is not age specific because the shot is administer at school), senior citizens aged 65 and older, those with rare diseases or major illnesses, medical and epidemic control personnel, bird and poultry industry handlers and detainees in public and private shelters.
The flu season is expected to begin in mid-December and peak during the Lunar New Year holidays, the deputy director said. However, because it takes about two weeks for a person to build up immunity after receiving the vaccine, Chou urged those who qualify for free flu shots to receive the inoculation as soon as possible.
Children will receive the flu shots at school, while adults may receive the shots at local health centers and participating medical institutions, he said. Those with special needs and disabilities may apply for medical personnel to make a house visit to give the shot by calling the 1922 hotline.
Senior citizens over the age of 75 can protect themselves from pneumonia by receiving an additional Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccine free of charge when they take their seasonal flu shots, the CDC said.
In related news, the CDC yesterday announced this year’s third reported case of dengue hemorrhagic fever.
The 73-year-old male living in Kaohsiung City experienced symptoms, including headache, fever and loss of appetite, on Sept. 17 and subsequently visited the hospital twice before he was diagnosed with dengue fever on Sept. 24.
He then displayed symptoms of dengue hemorrhagic fever, including decreased platelet count, internal hemorrhage and excess fluid around the lungs. The hemorrhagic fever diagnosis was confirmed on Monday and the man is now conscious and receiving treatment at a local hospital.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever can be deadly when an individual is first infected with one type of the virus — which is carried by mosquitoes — and then a different strand shortly thereafter.
Since last month, 272 indigenous cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in Taiwan, with four types of dengue fever detected in Kaohsiung City — the area hit the hardest with the disease.
The death rate of dengue hemorrhagic fever can be as high as 9.5 percent, therefore health officials are closely monitoring the situation and urged those who display symptoms of dengue fever to visit a doctor to prevent a second infection, which may develop into hemorrhagic fever.
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