The majority of whooping cough cases recorded in the nation involve infants who are not fully vaccinated against the disease, demonstrating that the vaccination remains the most effective method to prevent infection, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday.
Children are vaccinated against whooping cough in four doses, at two months, four months, six months and 18 months old. Since March 2009, a booster shot has been given to children during their first year at elementary school.
Statistics compiled by the CDC since 2005 reveal that infants under six months old account for more than 40 percent of all whooping cough cases, Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Shih Wen-yi (施文儀) said.
Of the 50 people diagnosed with whooping cough between Jan. 1 and Sept. 22 this year, 26 were younger than 12 months old, Shih said. There were four cases in the five to nine age group, eight cases among the 10 to 14 age group, one case in the 15 to 19 age group and 11 cases in the 30 to 64 age group, he said.
A preliminary study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that the effectiveness of the whooping cough vaccine declines at a rate faster than doctors originally believed, with the vaccine losing much of its effectiveness after three years.
Shih said follow-up data on the effectiveness of the whooping cough vaccine was not available in Taiwan, but the results of the vaccination program appeared to be satisfactory based on the number of cases of whooping cough.
The CDC plans to launch a long-term program next year that traces people’s immunity to diseases following vaccinations, he said.
At present, the whooping cough vaccination rate among preschool and elementary school children stands at 98 percent and 97 percent respectively, he said.
Shih said most whooping cough patients under six months old contract the disease from their mothers, babysitters or healthcare workers.
He advised women of childbearing age and healthcare workers who have never received a whooping cough vaccination to get themselves immunized.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
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