Ahead of Harvest Festivals, Ministry of Health and Indigenous Council Urge Vaccinations and Screenings
Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) announced a campaign to promote free vaccinations and cancer screenings in 55 indigenous townships during the harvest festival season starting late June.
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- 📰 Published: June 11, 2026 at 14:58
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(Central News Agency, reporter Shen Peiyao, Taipei, June 11) On the eve of harvest festivals across various regions, the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) and the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) jointly released a promotional video today, encouraging indigenous people to utilize publicly funded vaccines and disease screenings. They called on those returning to their hometowns for the festivals to seize the opportunity to get vaccinated and screened with their families, working together to safeguard health.
The MOHW and CIP held a joint press conference titled "Health Empowerment, Enhancing Indigenous Power!" at noon today, announcing that they will promote free vaccinations and free cancer screenings for indigenous people in 55 indigenous townships during festival periods starting at the end of June.
CIP Deputy Minister Chen Yi-hsin noted in his speech that the period from June to the end of each year is the peak season for indigenous harvest festivals and seasonal rituals, when tribal members gather most densely. He stated that the CIP and MOHW will adopt a division of labor model combining "air warfare" (media/online) and "ground warfare" (on-site). The MOHW will provide medical expertise and resources, while the CIP will leverage its local advantages to conduct "ground warfare" promotion deep within the tribes.
Chen said that if tribal members cannot complete screenings or vaccinations on-site during the seasonal rituals, an agreement has been reached with the MOHW to guide them to nearby health stations. The goal is to hold over a dozen large-scale integrated service events across the nation's tribes, comprehensively improving vaccination rates and health screening quality in indigenous areas.
MOHW Minister Shih Chung-liang mentioned that the average life expectancy for all citizens has exceeded 80 years, while indigenous friends currently average about 73 years. Although the gap has narrowed from 9.41 years in 2006 to the current 7.54 years, shortening the "unhealthy life expectancy" remains the top priority of President Lai Ching-te's "Healthy Taiwan" vision.
Shih emphasized that to achieve the goal of "Health for All," the Executive Yuan has significantly increased the budget, specifically lowering the age thresholds for several preventive health services and vaccinations for indigenous people, providing a "one-stop" health protection service.
He listed examples such as a one-time carbon-13 urea breath test for gastric cancer prevention for residents aged 20-44, a one-time hepatitis B and C screening for those aged 40-79, and adult preventive health services every 5 years for those over 30, every 3 years for those over 40, and annually for those over 55. All these thresholds are significantly earlier than those for the general population.
Premier Cho Jung-tai stated that the government continues to expand the capacity of indigenous health care, including cultivating local indigenous medical personnel, strengthening medical services in indigenous areas, promoting telemedicine, improving emergency medical evacuation mechanisms, and building health culture stations with integrated tribal care, ensuring that health care resources truly reach the tribes and meet the needs of the people.
He said that in the future, the focus will not only be on disease treatment but also on strengthening forward-looking health promotion and preventive care, achieving the goal of "Healthy Tribes, Healthy Families, Healthy Individuals." (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150611
The MOHW and CIP held a joint press conference titled "Health Empowerment, Enhancing Indigenous Power!" at noon today, announcing that they will promote free vaccinations and free cancer screenings for indigenous people in 55 indigenous townships during festival periods starting at the end of June.
CIP Deputy Minister Chen Yi-hsin noted in his speech that the period from June to the end of each year is the peak season for indigenous harvest festivals and seasonal rituals, when tribal members gather most densely. He stated that the CIP and MOHW will adopt a division of labor model combining "air warfare" (media/online) and "ground warfare" (on-site). The MOHW will provide medical expertise and resources, while the CIP will leverage its local advantages to conduct "ground warfare" promotion deep within the tribes.
Chen said that if tribal members cannot complete screenings or vaccinations on-site during the seasonal rituals, an agreement has been reached with the MOHW to guide them to nearby health stations. The goal is to hold over a dozen large-scale integrated service events across the nation's tribes, comprehensively improving vaccination rates and health screening quality in indigenous areas.
MOHW Minister Shih Chung-liang mentioned that the average life expectancy for all citizens has exceeded 80 years, while indigenous friends currently average about 73 years. Although the gap has narrowed from 9.41 years in 2006 to the current 7.54 years, shortening the "unhealthy life expectancy" remains the top priority of President Lai Ching-te's "Healthy Taiwan" vision.
Shih emphasized that to achieve the goal of "Health for All," the Executive Yuan has significantly increased the budget, specifically lowering the age thresholds for several preventive health services and vaccinations for indigenous people, providing a "one-stop" health protection service.
He listed examples such as a one-time carbon-13 urea breath test for gastric cancer prevention for residents aged 20-44, a one-time hepatitis B and C screening for those aged 40-79, and adult preventive health services every 5 years for those over 30, every 3 years for those over 40, and annually for those over 55. All these thresholds are significantly earlier than those for the general population.
Premier Cho Jung-tai stated that the government continues to expand the capacity of indigenous health care, including cultivating local indigenous medical personnel, strengthening medical services in indigenous areas, promoting telemedicine, improving emergency medical evacuation mechanisms, and building health culture stations with integrated tribal care, ensuring that health care resources truly reach the tribes and meet the needs of the people.
He said that in the future, the focus will not only be on disease treatment but also on strengthening forward-looking health promotion and preventive care, achieving the goal of "Healthy Tribes, Healthy Families, Healthy Individuals." (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150611
FAQ
What is the purpose of this campaign?
To extend the healthy life expectancy of indigenous people and close the gap with the national average by promoting free vaccinations and cancer screenings.
When and where will the campaign take place?
Starting from late June 2025, in 55 indigenous townships across Taiwan, coinciding with the harvest festivals.
What age groups are targeted?
Age thresholds are lowered compared to the general population, e.g., H. pylori test for ages 20-44, hepatitis B/C screening for ages 40-79, and regular check-ups starting from age 30.