#14,480
As mentioned in my last blog (see NHS Update: More Global Flu Vaccine Delays), due to supply problems, Taiwan has delayed their flu vaccination campaign by six weeks; until at least mid-November.
When it does kick off, initial supplies are expected to be limited.In an attempt to mitigate the impact of this late start, today their CDC announced that publicly funded antivirals will be provided - starting Nov. 1st - for anyone diagnosed with influenza (with or without lab confirmation).
(translated)
Public-fee influenza antiviral drugs to expand drug use measures ahead of November 1 this year
Release Date: October 23, 2019 The domestic influenza epidemic has declined, but in view of this year's public-funded influenza vaccine delayed start, after the autumn community still continued to have influenza virus activity and clustering and other factors, by the Ministry of Health and Welfare Infectious Disease Prevention Advisory Council - influenza prevention and control group members jointly discussed, recommended the early implementation of public-funded influenza antiviral drugs to expand drug use measures, so the Disease Control Department announced that,
From 1 November, "people with influenza such as fever symptoms and family/colleagues/classmates with influenza-like morbidity" will be added to the conditions of use of publicly paid pharmaceutical strains (e.g. annexes). According to the CDC, people with influenza-like symptoms in more than 4,000 public-paid influenza antiviral drug contract medical institutions in the country, after the doctor judged that the symptoms and medical history meet the conditions for the use of public-cost drugs, they have to open public-fee influenza antiviral agents, and whether to accept influenza fast screening has nothing to do.
In addition, as the current influenza antiviral agents are not included in the health insurance payment items, the timing and necessity of public-cost drug treatment is still determined by the physician according to the patient's condition and clinical profession. CDC surveillance data show that the recent domestic influenza epidemic showed a downward trend, last week (October 13 to October 19) a total of 70,258 emergency visits, slightly lower than the previous week, the percentage of emergency cases below the epidemic threshold;
In the last 4 weeks, the prevalence of virus type a type of A mainly, accounting for 82.8%. The CDC once again reminded the public not to ignore the severity of the flu, to implement personal hygiene measures such as frequent hand washing and coughing etiquette, to wear a mask when there are respiratory symptoms, to cover the mouth and nose with paper or handkerchiefs when sneezing, or to use sleeves instead, and to keep more than 1 meter when talking to others. People who have flu-like symptoms should seek medical treatment and take a full rest, waiting to recover before going to school, so as not to spread the virus between peers to cause the outbreak.
Information on the conditions of drug use, the list of contract medical institutions and the prevention and treatment of influenza can be found at the CDC Global Information Network (https://www.cdc.gov.tw) or by calling the toll-free epidemic prevention line 1922 (or 0800-001922).(Continue . . . )
Worries over the delivery of this year's vaccine have been apparent since early summer, and we now have added concerns over how close of a match the H3N2 and B/Victoria vaccine strains will be to this winter's viruses, all of which has public health officials wary of seeing another nasty flu season ahead.
Stay tuned.
