Covid-19 booster shots approved for Taiwan elderly, immunocompromised
- Second doses approved for those aged 65 and older while people with compromised immune systems can get a third shot
- While overall numbers remain small and more than 99 per cent report minor or no symptoms, case numbers are on the rise
While Taiwan is dealing with a rise in local cases, the numbers overall remain small – 15,544 since January 1 – and six people have died this year, according to the Taiwan Centres for Disease Control. More than 99 per cent of those infected reported either minor or no symptoms.
Taiwan targets zero serious Covid-19 cases amid gradual rise in infections
Taiwan’s CDC said on Wednesday it had approved second booster shots for those aged 65 and older, as well as residents in long-term care facilities.
People with compromised immune systems, including dialysis patients and those who have received organ transplants, are approved for third booster shots, it added.
The CDC recommended getting second and third boosters at least five months after the previous shot and said people could choose among the Taiwan-made Medigen and overseas brands Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech and Novavax. Taiwan has not yet received any Novavax vaccines.
About 80 per cent of Taiwan’s 23 million people are now double vaccinated and more than half have had a booster dose, while mask-wearing mandates continue.
The government has warned that a further rise in cases is expected, driven by the more infectious Omicron variant.
South Korea has approved a second booster shot for people over 60 and Singapore has said a second booster dose is planned for those 80 and older.
Taiwan has reported 43,243 infections since the pandemic began more than two years ago, and 856 deaths.
