Taiwan opened the first phase of its 2026 public influenza and COVID-19 vaccination program on Wednesday, deploying 7.05 million government-purchased flu doses as health officials warned that outpatient visits could crest near 150,000 per week before mid-October.
Health Minister Shih Chung-liang and CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun led a Taipei launch event promoting “left flu, right COVID” same-day shots for eligible adults. Phase two expands to adults aged 50 to 64 without high-risk conditions on November 2.
Epidemiology behind the push
Surveillance data showed influenza-like illness visits at about 138,654 in the week ending September 26, down slightly on holiday clinic closures but still in epidemic territory. Laboratory samples were dominated by influenza A(H1N1). Lo said roughly 67.7 percent of severe flu cases this season had not received the current vaccine.
COVID-19 outpatient traffic is declining yet remains endemic, with 33 severe domestic cases and 14 deaths reported in the latest weekly bundle. Officials urged seniors and chronic-disease patients to take both shots in one visit to reduce clinic crowding.
Who qualifies now
Phase one covers people 65 and older, Indigenous adults 55 and up, medical workers, pregnant women, young children, nursing-home residents, high-risk adults, parents of infants under six months, and daycare staff. School-based programs will deliver student doses on campuses over the next month.
Adults can earn health tokens—450 for flu and 900 for COVID-19—redeemable for goods starting December 1. The rewards are meant to offset hesitancy, not replace clinical counseling.
Access tips
Residents can locate contract clinics through the CDC VAX MAP and should call ahead to confirm stock. Bring National Health Insurance cards and pregnancy or chronic-disease documentation when applicable. Antiviral supplies were pre-positioned at major pharmacy chains after polyclinic wait times stretched during the Mid-Autumn Festival return wave.
Lo projected cases could ease after mid-October if uptake beats last year’s pace, but said masks remain advised in crowded indoor clinics while the dual viruses circulate.
County rollout
New Taipei and Kaohsiung health bureaus added evening clinic hours through October, citing long queues after the Mid-Autumn return. Pharmacists must document batch numbers in the national immunization registry before health tokens post to patient accounts.