According to CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui, Taiwan had purchased 6.78 million doses of the flu vaccine this year, but only 200,000 doses remain. Since the flu vaccine is publicly funded in Taiwan, authorities are urging high-risk groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible, Taiwan News reported.
In Tainan City, over 7,400 free flu vaccine doses were initially available, but they were fully booked in less than three hours from Monday noon.
The Department of Family Medicine at Taichung Hospital, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, also reported a sharp increase in patient numbers that afternoon. The surge in inquiries even overwhelmed the CDC website, according to United Daily News.
Many people decided to get vaccinated after learning about Hsu's death. The 49-year-old star, best known for her leading role in the TV series "Meteor Garden," arrived in Japan for a family trip on Jan. 29 and passed away on Feb. 2.
The following day, her family confirmed that she had died from influenza-related pneumonia, noting that she had exhibited severe health warning signs prior to her death.
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Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu. Photo from Barbie Hsu's Weibo account |
Hung Wei-chieh, director of the Family Medicine Department at E-Da Hospital, told Taiwan News on Tuesday that before the Lunar New Year, there was little interest in flu vaccination. However, in the past two days, many previously hesitant individuals have proactively sought their shots.
A 20-year-old university student mentioned with the news website that he had previously believed flu-related deaths mainly affected the elderly. However, learning that Hsu passed away in her late 40s motivated him to seek vaccination immediately.
A similar trend is being observed in Hong Kong.
Family doctor Lam Wing-wo reported a 30% surge in vaccination inquiries, with many who once hesitated now opting for protection against the virus. Lam attributed this change to increased health awareness and the concerns sparked by Hsu's passing, as reported by The Standard.
In an emergency press conference on Monday, the Taiwanese CDC released the latest flu statistics. From Jan. 19 to 25, there were 162,352 outpatient and emergency visits for flu-like illnesses—the highest number for that period in the past 10 years.
The CDC expects the figure to range between 160,000 and 180,000 in the next two weeks. Additionally, from Oct. 1 to Feb. 2, Taiwan recorded 641 severe flu cases and 132 flu-related deaths, the highest in five years. Over 90% of those who died had not received the flu vaccine this season.
The current flu outbreak in Taiwan is linked to the global epidemic, with the A (H1N1) strain being dominant. The flu vaccination rate is currently 46.3% among people aged 65 and older and 68.6% among preschool children.
Due to the limited supply of free vaccines, local authorities are urging high-risk groups—such as the elderly, pregnant women, young children, and individuals with underlying health conditions—to get vaccinated promptly. Although the flu is typically mild and resolves within 2-7 days, it can lead to complications and even death in vulnerable populations.
Countries including France, the U.K., and Japan are also grappling with rising flu cases. In response, authorities have ramped up vaccination and prevention campaigns that had been stalled for some time. Experts are calling for close monitoring, transparent data sharing between countries, and continued investment in public health.