Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control said phase-one government influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations begin Wednesday, October 1, covering medical workers, seniors, pregnant women, young children, and people with high-risk conditions. The rollout arrives as surveillance shows influenza A(H1N1) causing most severe cases and as COVID-19 clinic visits decline but remain in a low endemic band.
Who qualifies first
Eleven priority groups may book appointments through the CDC’s vaccine map, hospital portals such as Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and municipal systems in cities like Taichung. Phase two opens November 2 for adults aged 50 to 64 without chronic illnesses. Schools receive separate flu-only batches for pupils.
CDC epidemiologists said week 38 influenza outpatient visits dipped slightly because of the Mid-Autumn holiday clinic schedule, but severe cases continue to skew elderly and unvaccinated. More than two-thirds of fatal flu cases this season had not received the current jab, according to the agency’s September 29 bulletin.
Health coins and co-administration
Adults 18 and older can earn health coins for completing shots: 450 for flu, 900 for COVID-19, and 600 for pneumococcal vaccines, redeemable for goods starting December 1 through the Health Promotion Administration portal. Clinics are encouraged to offer left-arm flu and right-arm COVID doses in one visit to boost uptake.
Practical guidance
Patients should bring national health insurance cards and proof of eligibility. Hospital administrators warned that October Mondays often see queues at large medical centers; neighborhood clinics may have shorter waits but limited pediatric slots.
For families in Taiwan, the October 1 start is less about novelty than timing: getting antibodies in place before cooler weather and Double Ten travel crowds.