Taiwan Centers for Disease Control in March will start a new push to get the country’s residents to take another coronavirus vaccine dose. That’s according to Health Ministry official Lee Ping-ing (李秉穎) on Thursday.
Lee says the pandemic is not yet over, though the virus is spreading less than before. He says there are still dozens of deaths every day from COVID-19. Those deaths are mainly among the unvaccinated.
Lee says that officials are recommending everyone receive at least one more dose of a COVID-19 vaccine this year, as long as the interval is three months from their last dose. Authorities are also recommending people take the second-generation vaccines, though other jabs are also available for those fearing the omicron vaccine’s side effects.
Lee says the new vaccination program will especially target the unvaccinated. Many believe there is no longer a need to get vaccinated now that the pandemic has stabilized. Lee emphasizes that unlike SARS, the COVID-19 virus will always be prevalent and people are at risk of being infected, making getting vaccinated important.
Lee adds many people have died from COVID-19 after their second infection, meaning surviving the disease once does not mean it is no longer a threat. Therefore, Lee recommends vaccination as the safest practice.
Lee says no resolution has been made yet as to whether the elderly and those in high-risk groups should be given two vaccine doses a year. He adds vaccination plans next year have yet to be set. That’s because there is no international consensus and authorities have to monitor the development of the virus.