New Single-Dose Pneumococcal Vaccine to Be Fully Upgraded in August
Taiwan's Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that starting in August, public-funded pneumococcal vaccines will be fully upgraded to a single-dose 20- or 21-valent vaccine. This initiative aims to enhance adult vaccination efforts in response to Taiwan's transition into a super-aging society.
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- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 12:59
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei 29th) As Taiwan enters a super-aging society, the Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Lo Yi-chun, shared at the Taiwan-Europe Health Forum today that this year, not only will public-funded flu vaccines for the first time procure enhanced vaccines, but the pneumococcal vaccine, which requires only one dose (20- or 21-valent), will also undergo a complete conversion and upgrade in August.
The European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT) held the "2026 Europe-Taiwan Medical Forum" today. Lo Yi-chun, one of the keynote speakers, shared Taiwan's adult vaccination policy blueprint from a policymaker's perspective. With the world entering the post-COVID-19 era, adult vaccination planning faces new challenges, especially as Taiwan has entered a super-aging society, necessitating active adjustments to vaccination strategies.
Lo Yi-chun stated that this year, public-funded flu vaccines will for the first time procure 200,000 doses of enhanced vaccines, prioritized for residents aged 65 and above in long-term care facilities. For adult pneumococcal vaccines, there is also a new plan. It is expected that by August this year at the earliest, the pneumococcal vaccine upgrade will be fully completed, converting all existing vaccines to a single-dose 20- or 21-valent conjugate vaccine. Procurement operations are currently underway.
Lo Yi-chun further mentioned that adult vaccines currently being evaluated for public funding include the shingles vaccine, with cost-effectiveness analyses expected to be completed by the end of this year. The results will then be submitted to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare for discussion.
In addition to protecting the elderly, women and children are also key protected populations. The rotavirus vaccine for infants will be included in the publicly funded immunization program, expected to be implemented starting in the 116th year of the Republic of China (2027). For respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody vaccines for pregnant women and newborns, academic research institutions are currently commissioned to conduct cost-effectiveness evaluations, expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Lo Yi-chun believes that future adult vaccination planning faces four major challenges: The first challenge is the shift in the agenda for prioritizing vaccinations in a super-aging society, requiring a more comprehensive immunization strategy for the elderly. The second challenge is vaccine upgrades and the introduction of new products, which relies on stronger scientific evidence and thorough implementation plans.
Lo Yi-chun stated that the third challenge is the limited funding for vaccine procurement; introducing new vaccine procurements requires supporting measures to address potential financial pressures. The fourth challenge is public vaccination fatigue and hesitancy; after the pandemic, public attention to vaccination has significantly decreased, and vaccine misinformation persists, leading to public hesitancy.
Lo Yi-chun said that the introduction of new vaccines will definitely undergo scientific and systematic evaluations to ensure safety and effectiveness. Furthermore, more detailed planning procedures and logistics will be implemented to proactively address potential issues in the supply chain, distribution, and vaccination process. Concurrently, through education, advocacy, and cooperation, public vaccination fatigue and hesitancy will be reduced. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150429
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-ling, Taipei 29th) As Taiwan enters a super-aging society, the Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Lo Yi-chun, shared at the Taiwan-Europe Health Forum today that this year, not only will public-funded flu vaccines for the first time procure enhanced vaccines, but the pneumococcal vaccine, which requires only one dose (20- or 21-valent), will also undergo a complete conversion and upgrade in August.
The European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT) held the "2026 Europe-Taiwan Medical Forum" today. Lo Yi-chun, one of the keynote speakers, shared Taiwan's adult vaccination policy blueprint from a policymaker's perspective. With the world entering the post-COVID-19 era, adult vaccination planning faces new challenges, especially as Taiwan has entered a super-aging society, necessitating active adjustments to vaccination strategies.
Lo Yi-chun stated that this year, public-funded flu vaccines will for the first time procure 200,000 doses of enhanced vaccines, prioritized for residents aged 65 and above in long-term care facilities. For adult pneumococcal vaccines, there is also a new plan. It is expected that by August this year at the earliest, the pneumococcal vaccine upgrade will be fully completed, converting all existing vaccines to a single-dose 20- or 21-valent conjugate vaccine. Procurement operations are currently underway.
Lo Yi-chun further mentioned that adult vaccines currently being evaluated for public funding include the shingles vaccine, with cost-effectiveness analyses expected to be completed by the end of this year. The results will then be submitted to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Ministry of Health and Welfare for discussion.
In addition to protecting the elderly, women and children are also key protected populations. The rotavirus vaccine for infants will be included in the publicly funded immunization program, expected to be implemented starting in the 116th year of the Republic of China (2027). For respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody vaccines for pregnant women and newborns, academic research institutions are currently commissioned to conduct cost-effectiveness evaluations, expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Lo Yi-chun believes that future adult vaccination planning faces four major challenges: The first challenge is the shift in the agenda for prioritizing vaccinations in a super-aging society, requiring a more comprehensive immunization strategy for the elderly. The second challenge is vaccine upgrades and the introduction of new products, which relies on stronger scientific evidence and thorough implementation plans.
Lo Yi-chun stated that the third challenge is the limited funding for vaccine procurement; introducing new vaccine procurements requires supporting measures to address potential financial pressures. The fourth challenge is public vaccination fatigue and hesitancy; after the pandemic, public attention to vaccination has significantly decreased, and vaccine misinformation persists, leading to public hesitancy.
Lo Yi-chun said that the introduction of new vaccines will definitely undergo scientific and systematic evaluations to ensure safety and effectiveness. Furthermore, more detailed planning procedures and logistics will be implemented to proactively address potential issues in the supply chain, distribution, and vaccination process. Concurrently, through education, advocacy, and cooperation, public vaccination fatigue and hesitancy will be reduced. (Editor: Lin Shu-hui) 1150429
Stand with truth, every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First-hand News" APP to get the latest news in real time.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.