Cities and counties limit free flu shots amid soaring demand [i6IxNK6vPtx]
Cities and counties across the country are imposing limits on free flu shots, as demand for the vaccine reaches record heights. Taiwan is just 10 days into its free flu shot program, but has already used up 45% of the supply. In Taichung and Changhua, shots are now restricted to people 65 and older. Keelung City says it will no longer administer shots to people whose households are registered out of town. A long line has formed this morning as people wait for a flu shot. Just 10 days into the government-funded vaccination program, there are already complaints of a shortage. Local They had shots for just two or three days before announcing they were out. It''s puzzling. Why are there so few of these free flu shots? According to Taiwan CDC data, more than 2.73 million doses were administered in the program''s first nine days. That''s 45% of the total, representing a 27% jump year-on-year. In Taichung, limited supplies have prompted restrictions at neighborhood clinics. Now, only the elderly are eligible for free shots. Pan Tsao-ying Taichung health official At community clinics, we are providing flu vaccines only to people 65 and up. So long as the demand remains so robust, the Health Bureau will impose controls on vaccination every day. A complaint has come from a parent who took a child to Keelung to get shots. The family was refused, because their household registration was in Taipei. According to officials, every administrative district gets a supply of shots equal to 25% of their registered population. Keelung has only about 100,000 doses, yet has been hit with a flood of out-of-towners hunting for a vaccine. In response, Keelung health authorities announced that only registered locals could get shots locally. They also imposed a daily limit on vaccines. Father Refused party If people who want shots have to go back to the place indicated on their ID, that''s a great deal of trouble. It''s troublesome not just for the kids. Parents might have take the day off so that they can take the kids. I feel that this program should be convenient for people. Kuo Hsiang-lan Keelung health official If all Taipei residents with the ID prefix of A came here asking for shots, would I need to provide them? Taipei City has controls, New Taipei has controls, every city and county has controls in place. The ways in which they implement those controls are different. Over in Taipei, there are many neighborhoods scheduled for flu vaccination in November. But with the national supply shrinking fast, these communities fear there won''t be enough left over. Local wardens say they''re feeling the pressure from anxious locals. Ho Kuo-jung Borough warden in Taipei Of course we are very worried. If we''re scheduled too far back, then there won''t be enough vaccines by then. Of course the community is very anxious. They''re pushing the neighborhood heads to find a way to sort it out. The central government says supply of shots, free and self-paid, is sufficient to reach 31.5% of the population, which is high enough for herd immunity. Amid fears of a "twindemic" of COVID and flu, Taiwan is seeing a record vaccine demand that''s left local clinics struggling to keep up.