The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday announced that it would make 200,000 doses of a protein-based Novavax vaccine targeting the JN.1 subvariant of COVID-19 available to the public from Wednesday next week.
The vaccine was an alternative for those who previously had an adverse reaction to more common mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, the CDC said.
The Novavax JN.1 jabs would be available to those who are 12 years old or above, CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-huai (曾淑慧) said.
Photo: Taipei Times
Meanwhile, 1.7 million out of the 5.5 million doses of Moderna’s mRNA-based JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine procured by the CDC have already been administered, CDC statistics showed.
As Taiwan is well-stocked with mRNA vaccines, unvaccinated people, particularly those who are 65 or older and those with chronic illnesses, should get a shot as soon as possible to lower the chances of developing terminal symptoms due to COVID-19, Tseng said.
People should also be aware that it takes two weeks for a vaccine to begin providing protection against COVID-19, Tseng added.
In other developments, the CDC said 94,882 visits to emergency departments and outpatient clinics for flu-like symptoms were reported from Dec. 15 to Saturday last week, a 16 percent increase compared with the number of cases recorded the previous week.
Among those who visited emergency departments in that period, 10.8 percent were due to flu-like illnesses, very close to the epidemic threshold of 11 percent, it said.
CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-huai (曾淑慧) warned that in winter, viruses targeting the human respiratory system are more active, and with year-end activities such as Christmas celebrations and New Year’s gatherings, the risk of disease transmission is increasing.
She urged people who have not yet received a flu jab, especially those in high-risk groups, to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
The CDC on Tuesday last week announced that free flu vaccines would be offered to all unvaccinated residents in Taiwan aged 6 months or older starting on Jan. 1 until the vaccine supply is used up.
The US House of Representatives yesterday passed the PROTECT Taiwan Act, which stipulates that Washington would exclude China from participating in major global financial organizations if its actions directly threaten Taiwan’s security. The bill, proposed by Republican US Representative Frank Lucas, passed with 395 votes in favor and two against. It stipulates that if China’s actions pose any threat to Taiwan’s security, economic or social systems, the US would, “to the maximum extent practicable,” exclude China from international financial institutions, including the G20, the Bank for International Settlements and the Financial Stability Board. The bill makes it clear that China
Taiwan’s Li Yu-hsiang performs in the men’s singles figure skating short program at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, on Tuesday. Li finished 24th with a score of 72.41 to advance to Saturday’s free skate portion of the event. He is the first Taiwanese to qualify for the free skate of men’s singles figure skating at the Olympics since David Liu in 1992.
Garbage and recycling schedules are to vary from Saturday through Sunday next week over the Lunar New Year holiday period. The following collection information is from the governments of the six special municipalities. Taipei Regular service: Sunday to Monday next week. No service: Tuesday to Thursday next week. Extra service: Friday next week. Regular service resumes: Saturday next week. New Taipei City Extra service: Sunday. Adjusted collection time: Monday next week — garbage collection is to begin in the morning and end at 6pm. No service: Tuesday to Thursday next week. Regular service resumes: Friday next week. Note: Garbage can be dropped off at 70
A total lunar eclipse coinciding with the Lantern Festival on March 3 would be Taiwan’s most notable celestial event this year, the Taipei Astronomical Museum said, urging skywatchers not to miss it. There would be four eclipses worldwide this year — two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses — the museum’s Web site says. Taiwan would be able to observe one of the lunar eclipses in its entirety on March 3. The eclipse would be visible as the moon rises at 5:50pm, already partly shaded by the Earth’s shadow, the museum said. It would peak at about 7:30pm, when the moon would
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