Taiwan Boosts COVID-19 Protection: Second JN.1 Vaccine Shots for Seniors

Enhancing Immunity: New Vaccine Availability for Vulnerable Populations in Taiwan

Taipei, April 1 – In a proactive move to safeguard its vulnerable population, Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that individuals aged 65 and above can receive a second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine targeting the JN.1 variant, starting April 8th.

According to the CDC, the initiative is in response to ongoing monitoring of COVID-19 trends. Last week, Taiwan saw approximately 1,900 emergency room visits related to COVID-19, representing a 4.9% increase from the previous week. While the overall number of severe infections remains relatively low, the health authorities are taking precautions.

Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳), Deputy Director of the CDC Epidemic Intelligence Center, highlighted that a significant majority, over 90%, of severe infections in recent weeks involved patients who had not received the JN.1 vaccine. This underscores the vaccine's importance in preventing serious outcomes.

Initially, both the Moderna and Novavax JN.1 vaccines were available. However, the CDC reported that approximately 66,000 remaining Novavax shots are scheduled to expire on April 5th. To maintain robust protection, the CDC will initiate second doses of the (Moderna) JN.1 vaccine on April 8th. This will be available not only for those aged 65 and above but also for Indigenous people aged 55-64 and individuals with weakened immune systems.

Data from the CDC indicates that as of March 31st, 17.95% of individuals aged 65 and above and 8.65% of the general population in Taiwan had received a dose of the JN.1 vaccine, demonstrating a significant effort in vaccination coverage.