The Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the Department of Health announces that in response to the rising global influenza pandemic and the increasing need of influenza vaccines for citizens traveling to flu epidemic affected regions, the CDC will offer self-pay citizens who plan to travel abroad flu vaccines in the travel clinics in 12 contracted international preventive vaccination facilities, starting January 21st of this year (2013) until the vaccines run out. Since the National Health Insurance does not cover travel clinic visits, people receiving vaccination in the designated clinics will be required to self-pay for registration fee, vaccine cost, diagnosis fee, vaccine administration fee (intramuscular) and processing fee. 

The CDC indicates that Premier Chen of the Executive Yuan expressed concern about the rising global flu pandemic during yesterday’s Yuan meeting (January 17th) and demanded the Department of Health to increase the supply and distribution of domestic vaccines. The upcoming winter vacation and Chinese New Year holidays are the peak season for international travel and visiting relatives, but the current domestic flu vaccine supply is too low for self-pay patients. To address this issue, the CDC redistributed a portion of the insurance-covered flu vaccines to 12 international preventive vaccination facilities nationwide (see attachment) for citizens in need to receive on a self-pay basis. 

In addition, the CDC also reminds the public that although the flu epidemic in Taiwan is still at a relatively minor level, there could be an increase in the number of emergency room visits for flu-like illness during the Chinese New Year holidays. The CDC urges the people who qualify for an insurance-covered flu vaccine and are willing to receive immunization to take the vaccine as early as possible. Some parents of young children under the age of 3, whose immunization rate is relatively low, are still hesitant to immunize their children; however, young children who receive flu vaccines for the first time are required to take a second shot 1 month after receiving the first one to acquire enough protection from the vaccines. Therefore, the CDC especially urges parents to bring their young children to the designated clinics for flu vaccination. 

For information on influenza vaccination or related disease preventive measures, please visit the CDC global information website (http://www.cdc.gov.tw), or dial the 1922 domestic toll-free public disease reporting and care hotline. 

Attachment:List of international preventive vaccination facilities with travel clinics offering influenza vaccination for self-pay patients.doc