TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Centers for Disease Control announced Tuesday that rotavirus vaccines will be added to the nation's government-funded childhood immunization program beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
The program will provide government-funded two-dose and three-dose oral rotavirus vaccine formulations to eligible infants. The agency said rotavirus is one of the leading causes of gastroenteritis in children under the age of five. Severe infections can cause acute diarrhea and dehydration, often requiring hospitalization, per a press release.
Based on international practices and advisory committee findings, both the two-dose and three-dose vaccines currently available in Taiwan offer comparable protection, preventing more than 90% of severe rotavirus gastroenteritis cases and significantly reducing the risk of hospitalization.
The agency estimates 120,000 children will benefit during the program's first year. It recommended the two-dose series be given at 2 and 4 months of age, and the three-dose series be given at 2, 4, and 6 months.
Currently, 16 cities and counties in Taiwan provide the vaccine for preschool children through self-pay or local government funding. Once the nationwide program begins, children who have not yet completed their vaccinations will be eligible to receive the remaining doses. Health authorities said children should, in principle, complete the vaccine series using the same brand of vaccine.
The agency said adding rotavirus vaccines to the national immunization schedule will increase the number of government-funded vaccines available for preschool children to 10, protecting against a total of 15 infectious diseases, per a press release.
Health officials said the expanded program is expected to improve immunity among young children, reduce out-of-pocket medical costs for families, and narrow health disparities between urban and rural areas.
