《TAIPEI TIMES》Second phase of COVID, flu shots starts

健康 國際 地方 蒐奇 影音 財經 娛樂 汽車 時尚 體育 3 C 評論 藝文 玩咖 食譜 地產 專區 TAIPEI TIMES 求職

Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-hsiang receives a flu shot during a news conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times

ONE-TWO PUNCH: Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-hsiang received both jabs at a PX Mart in Taipei, touting the CDC’s ‘left arm flu, right arm COVID-19’ slogan

By Lee I-chia / Staff reporter

The second phase of the government’s free COVID-19 and flu vaccination program started yesterday, with eligibility expanded to people aged 50 to 64, and vaccination stations operating at participating supermarket chains.

The first phase of the government-funded COVID-19 and flu vaccination program began on Oct. 1 for people aged 65 or older, young children and high-risk groups.

More than 4.57 million doses of flu vaccines and more than 1.28 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered as part of the program last month, more than the same period last year, Centers for Disease Control （CDC） Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng （林明誠） said.

The coverage rate of flu vaccination among people aged 65 or older reached 41.1 percent last month, which is also higher than last year, he added.

At a PX Mart branch in Taipei yesterday, Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Chuang Jen-hsiang （莊人祥） received both vaccines, touting the CDC’s slogan of “left arm flu, right arm COVID-19” to promote getting both jabs at the same time.

He said the vaccines not only help reduce the risk of infection, but also reduce the risk of serious complications from infection, and that people aged 50 or older might easily neglect their health due to family and work demands.

The CDC has worked with PX Mart on flu vaccination campaigns since 2017, making the shots more accessible, Chuang said.

Eligible recipients could also receive fruit and bottled water provided by the supermarket, while vaccinated adults aged 18 or older could earn the ministry’s “health coin” rewards, he said.

The company is working with local health agencies to set up vaccination stations at 106 branches and 14 Mega PX Mart stores, PX Mart president Tony Tsai （蔡篤昌） said, adding that the company is honored to work with the CDC and contribute to disease prevention.

Meanwhile, at a Prosperity Plaza （formerly Carrefour） store in New Taipei City, CDC Director-General Philip Lo （羅一鈞） said that although flu and COVID-19 strains might change every year, the government-funded vaccines are up to date and can provide protection against the current circulating strains.

The COVID-19 vaccine used this year for people aged 12 or older provides better protection with fewer side effects than previous versions, he said, urging people to get vaccinated.

This is the second year that Uni-Prosperity Lifestyle Corp has worked with the CDC to provide space for vaccination stations at its stores, Prosperity Plaza public relations officer Steve Hsu （徐良彬） said.

The company offers special gifts for people who get vaccinated in its stores, he added.

People who are eligible for the government-funded vaccines should get them at the same time, the CDC said.

The locations of vaccination stations are available at https://vaxmap.cdc.gov.tw, it said.

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