TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Centers for Disease Control said Wednesday it will replace its publicly funded two-dose adult pneumococcal vaccination program with a single-dose regimen beginning Aug. 10.
Eligible adults will receive either the new 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or the newly introduced 21-valent vaccine, replacing the previous two-dose schedule of PCV13 followed by PPV23. The CDC said pneumonia has long been Taiwan's third-leading cause of death and urged eligible residents, particularly older adults, to receive the vaccination and reduce the risk of the disease, per a press release.
The publicly funded program, launched Jan. 15, is available to people aged 65 and older, Indigenous people aged 55 to 64, and individuals aged 19 to 64 who are at high risk for invasive pneumococcal disease. The agency said it has notified hospitals and clinics nationwide of the policy change and urged physicians to encourage eligible patients to receive the updated vaccine.
CDC Director-General Lo I-chun (羅一鈞) said the vaccination completion rate among those aged 65 and older has reached 36% since the program began in January. The agency aims to vaccinate an additional 180,000 people by the end of the year, raising the completion rate above 40%, per CNA.
Lo said each dose of the pneumococcal vaccine costs between NT$4,500 and NT$5,500 (US$140 to US$170). The government has invested about NT$900 million in the vaccination program to improve protection for high-risk groups and reduce severe illness, pneumonia, and deaths caused by pneumococcal infections.
The CDC defines high-risk IPD individuals as those with splenic dysfunction, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, cochlear implants, or cerebrospinal fluid leaks. The category also includes people who have received immunosuppressive therapy or radiotherapy for cancer within the past year, as well as organ transplant recipients, per the press release.
The agency said research shows pneumococcal vaccination significantly reduces the risk of pneumonia, sepsis, and death. Officials said the simplified single-dose schedule is expected to improve vaccination rates while further reducing severe disease and complications.
In addition to vaccination, the CDC urged the public to continue practicing preventive health measures. Foreign nationals eligible for the publicly funded program must be enrolled in the National Health Insurance system or hold a valid residence permit, the agency said, with additional vaccination information available on its website.
