Taipei: People aged 65 and above in Taiwan will be able to receive a second shot of a vaccine targeting the JN.1 variant of COVID-19 from April 8, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced on Tuesday. This initiative aims to bolster protection for the elderly population amid rising emergency room visits due to COVID-19.
According to Focus Taiwan, a total of 1,900 emergency room visits related to COVID-19 were reported across Taiwan last week, marking a 4.9 percent increase from the previous week. Despite the uptick in emergency visits, the overall number of severe infections remains relatively low, stated Lee Chia-lin, deputy director of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center, during a regular news briefing.
The CDC also revealed that over 90 percent of recent severe infections involved patients who had not received the JN.1 vaccine. Although both Moderna and Novavax JN.1 vaccines are available in Taiwan, the 66,000 remaining Novavax shots are set to expire on April 5.
Starting April 8, the CDC will offer second doses of the Moderna JN.1 vaccine specifically for individuals aged 65 and above, Indigenous people aged 55-64, and those with weakened immunity. This effort is part of a broader strategy to ensure adequate vaccine coverage among vulnerable groups.
CDC data shows that as of March 31, 17.95 percent of people aged 65 and above and 8.65 percent of the general population had received at least one dose of a JN.1 vaccine. The move to administer second doses is expected to improve immunity and reduce the incidence of severe cases within these demographics.