Hualien Seniors and Vulnerable Groups: Booking for Shingles Vaccine Starts May 4
Hualien County will offer free 2-dose shingles vaccinations (Shingrix) for eligible low-income earners over 50 and seniors over 65 with chronic diseases, with bookings starting May 4.
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- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 12:41
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 13:01 (20 min after Published)
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(CNA Reporter Li Xian-feng, Hualien, 27th) Hualien County will open bookings for shingles vaccinations starting May 4. Residents of Hualien who are low-income earners over 50 and seniors over 65 with chronic diseases, who have not been vaccinated before, can receive two doses for free. Vaccinations will be administered at health stations in various townships starting May 8.
To enhance the immunity of seniors and vulnerable groups, the Hualien County Government announced today that bookings for shingles vaccinations will open on May 4, with vaccinations starting on May 8. To ensure the rights of residents in each township, they must make an appointment at the health station in their place of household registration; cross-township appointments are not allowed.
Zhu Jia-xiang, director of the Hualien County Health Bureau, stated that the vaccine provided this time is the non-living recombinant shingles vaccine 'Shingrix.' It is a two-dose vaccine, and the second dose must be administered two months after the first.
Zhu said that after completing two doses, the preventive efficacy for people over 50 is as high as 97.2%, and for those over 70, it is 91.3%. Ten years after vaccination, the overall protective efficacy can still be maintained at about 89%, and it has a significant effect on preventing shingles and its complications, such as neuralgia.
Zhu pointed out that shingles, commonly known as 'skin snake,' is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus latent in the ganglia. When it breaks out, in addition to skin rashes and blisters, it is often accompanied by unbearable unilateral nerve pain. Research indicates that up to 99.5% of older adults carry this virus in their bodies, and one in three people may develop the disease. In addition to maintaining a regular schedule and enhancing resistance, vaccination is currently recognized as the most effective preventive measure.
The Hualien County Health Bureau reminded that in 2026, the vaccination targets are low-income earners over 50 and seniors over 65 (Indigenous people over 55) with chronic diseases registered in Hualien County who have not received the shingles vaccine.
The Health Bureau pointed out that on the day of vaccination, one must bring their NHI card, ID card (returned after verification), a photocopy of the front and back of the ID card, low-income certificate, and a chronic disease prescription or relevant supporting documents from within one year. Indigenous people aged 55 to 64 must also bring a photocopy of their household register. For related questions, please contact the local health station.
Furthermore, the Health Bureau stated that if residents have already received the shingles vaccine subsidized by Hualien County but still have needs, they can be evaluated by a doctor for self-paid vaccination after an interval of five years. For more information on self-paid vaccines, visit the Hualien County Health Bureau website. (Editor: Wu Su-rou) 1150427
To enhance the immunity of seniors and vulnerable groups, the Hualien County Government announced today that bookings for shingles vaccinations will open on May 4, with vaccinations starting on May 8. To ensure the rights of residents in each township, they must make an appointment at the health station in their place of household registration; cross-township appointments are not allowed.
Zhu Jia-xiang, director of the Hualien County Health Bureau, stated that the vaccine provided this time is the non-living recombinant shingles vaccine 'Shingrix.' It is a two-dose vaccine, and the second dose must be administered two months after the first.
Zhu said that after completing two doses, the preventive efficacy for people over 50 is as high as 97.2%, and for those over 70, it is 91.3%. Ten years after vaccination, the overall protective efficacy can still be maintained at about 89%, and it has a significant effect on preventing shingles and its complications, such as neuralgia.
Zhu pointed out that shingles, commonly known as 'skin snake,' is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus latent in the ganglia. When it breaks out, in addition to skin rashes and blisters, it is often accompanied by unbearable unilateral nerve pain. Research indicates that up to 99.5% of older adults carry this virus in their bodies, and one in three people may develop the disease. In addition to maintaining a regular schedule and enhancing resistance, vaccination is currently recognized as the most effective preventive measure.
The Hualien County Health Bureau reminded that in 2026, the vaccination targets are low-income earners over 50 and seniors over 65 (Indigenous people over 55) with chronic diseases registered in Hualien County who have not received the shingles vaccine.
The Health Bureau pointed out that on the day of vaccination, one must bring their NHI card, ID card (returned after verification), a photocopy of the front and back of the ID card, low-income certificate, and a chronic disease prescription or relevant supporting documents from within one year. Indigenous people aged 55 to 64 must also bring a photocopy of their household register. For related questions, please contact the local health station.
Furthermore, the Health Bureau stated that if residents have already received the shingles vaccine subsidized by Hualien County but still have needs, they can be evaluated by a doctor for self-paid vaccination after an interval of five years. For more information on self-paid vaccines, visit the Hualien County Health Bureau website. (Editor: Wu Su-rou) 1150427