TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control on Tuesday announced updates to the national immunization program, introducing new publicly funded vaccines starting in 2026 as part of efforts to align with international standards and expand public health protection.
Under the revised policy, the government will upgrade adult pneumococcal vaccines, enhance influenza booster vaccines for seniors, and add rotavirus vaccines for children beginning in 2027. Authorities will also increase compensation for health care providers administering government-funded vaccines, per a press release.
The CDC said it will switch to a one-dose adult pneumococcal vaccine using 20-valent or 21-valent formulations, which are already widely used in countries including the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. Taiwan previously offered a two-dose regimen, but clinical trials have shown the single-dose vaccines to be equally effective.
The Advisory Committee on Infectious Disease Prevention and Control under the Ministry of Health and Welfare approved the switch. The 20-valent pneumococcal vaccine has already received a domestic drug license, while the 21-valent version is expected to be licensed in April.
The upgraded adult pneumococcal vaccination program will begin Jan. 15. Eligible groups include seniors aged 65 and older, Indigenous people aged 55 to 64, and high-risk individuals aged 19 to 64. About 2.45 million people are expected to qualify in the first phase, with roughly 340,000 eligible in the second phase.
The CDC also announced plans to introduce booster influenza vaccines for older adults, noting that such programs are already in place in several countries. Based on clinical trials and international recommendations, two types of booster influenza vaccines have shown similar protective effects in elderly populations.
Following a cost-effectiveness assessment and approval by an expert meeting in March, the CDC said it will introduce an initial batch of 200,000 booster influenza vaccine doses starting next fall or winter. Both vaccines have obtained domestic drug licenses and are suitable for people aged 65 and above.
Priority will be given to elderly residents in long-term care facilities and nursing homes to reduce the risk of severe influenza cases and cluster infections, the agency said.
Another key change involves higher compensation for vaccine administration. Since 2018, medical institutions contracted to provide publicly funded vaccines have received compensation of NT$100 (US$3.20) per administered vaccine dose. Citing labor-intensive procedures and complex pre-vaccination assessments, especially for children, the Cabinet approved an increase on Dec. 18 to NT$200 per dose for children under six and NT$150 per dose for the general public.
The CDC also announced plans to include rotavirus vaccines in the national immunization program, citing the virus as a leading cause of severe diarrhea among infants and young children. In line with World Health Organization recommendations, funding for the rotavirus vaccine will be included in the fiscal 2027 budget, with implementation scheduled for the same year.
The CDC said vaccination remains one of the most effective tools for preventing infectious diseases and emphasized that the updated policy is based on international experience and cost-effectiveness. It urged eligible individuals to get vaccinated to strengthen immunity and reduce the risk of infection.
