Announcement

**Pathfinder** · January 7, 2010, 08:54 AM

Re: Taiwan gives H1N1 vaccine choice to public

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="92%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=15></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="92%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=en_content_title width="66%" colSpan=2>Minister's tearful appeal helps revitalize H1N1 immunization

</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=5></TD></TR><TR><TD class=author width="59%">Central News Agency
2010-01-07 08:47 PM

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Taipei, Jan. 7 (CNA) Local people's willingness to receive immunization against influenza A(H1N1) seems to have resumed after days of intensified publicity efforts, particularly after the health minister actually shed tears in public over "work pressure."

According to tallies released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the Department of Health (DOH), more than 40,000 people got vaccinated in the 24 hours between 10 a.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m.

Thursday.

"The number has rebounded almost to the average level recorded last week," said CDC Director-General Steve Kuo.

The immunization program almost came to a standstill early this week amid reports of the death of a boy allegedly related to H1N1 vaccination and a spate of cases involving patients suffering serious side effects from H1N1 shots.

In the face of mounting concern about the safety of locally produced vaccine and scathing criticism from opposition lawmakers of the immunization policy, as well as worries about a relapse of H1N1 infections due to rising public resistance to inoculation, DOH Minister Yaung Chih-liang was reduced to tears during a Legislative Yuan committee hearing Wednesday.

Perhaps Yaung's waterworks moved local people, so that the number of people receiving swine flu shots has increased, some observers said. However, CDC officials said the rebound in immunization interest should be attributed in part to publicity efforts by a group of epidemiologists and public health experts in recent days.

As parts of efforts to enhance the immunization rate, the DOH also decided that from Jan. 9, people will be allowed to choose either locally produced or imported vaccine.

Of the 5.37 million people who had been immunized in Taiwan as of Jan. 4, only 360,000 people received the vaccine produced by Switzerland-based multinational pharmaceutical company Novartis, according to DOH statistics.

The government has ordered a total of 10 million doses from Adimmune -- the local manufacturer of the vaccine -- and another 5 million doses from Novartis.

On media reports that the French government plans to return excess doses of the H1N1 vaccine to Novartis because of the far-fewer-than-expected number of French people coming forward to get shots, Kuo said negotiations between Novartis and the French government are still ongoing and that the CDC is closely monitoring the global situation.

"Our purchase contract terms are exactly same as those signed by other countries with the Swiss firm, " Kuo said, adding that the CDC will never accept discriminatory treatment and that if the French are allowed to return unused vaccines, then Taiwan should also be allowed to do so.

He further said Taiwan has actually done a good job in keeping the H1N1 outbreak at bay. "There has been no sign that the outbreak will gather strength," he added.

Nevertheless, he went on, more than 70 percent of local people still do not have antibodies, "so the CDC will cooperate with health care institutions in encouraging local people to be immunized against H1N1." At present, the number of new patients hospitalized for H1N1 infections still reaches two to three per day, he added.

Meanwhile, opposition Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Twu Shiing-jer said his appearance in a DOH-produced film urging the public to get H1N1 shots represents his support for the government's immunization policy, not an effort to help promote the Adimmune vaccine.

He made the remarks after his fellow DPP colleagues criticized him for backing Adimmune vaccine after reports of side effects related to it. "While I'm willing to take the risk by getting a shot of Adimmune vaccine to back the immunization policy, I have never encouraged other people to follow suit," he added. (By Chen Li-ting, Hsu Jui-ting and Sofia Wu)

Just a moment...

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1149939&lang=eng_news

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**Pathfinder** · January 9, 2010, 12:26 PM

Re: Taiwan gives H1N1 vaccine choice to public

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="92%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=en_content_title width="66%" colSpan=2>Death of boy who died after receiving H1N1 shot attributed to DIC

</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=5></TD></TR><TR><TD class=author width="59%">Central News Agency
2010-01-09 09:14 PM
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Taipei, Jan. 9 (CNA) A preliminary autopsy on a boy who died several weeks after being vaccinated against the H1N1 has concluded that a pathological activation of blood clotting mechanisms -- called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) -- caused his death.

The Taichung District Prosecutors' Office made the conclusion public Saturday.

"DIC caused bleeding in the brainstem (the lower part of the brain), resulting in the boy's death," the office said.

The final results of the autopsy will be determined after a further study of the boy's immune system tissues is conducted, the office added.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director-General Shih Wen-yi said he respects the judiciary's conclusion.

Asked about the connection between DIC and the H1N1 vaccine, Shih said that for now, he could only say that the possibility of the vaccine causing DIC is "very, very low." The 7-year-old child, who lived in central Taiwan, died on Dec. 21, several weeks after being vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus.

His father, a physician, has since blamed the vaccine for the death of his only son.

The highly publicized case has spread fears over the safety of the vaccine and frustrated the progress of the government's national immunization program, which began Nov. 1 amid a worldwide outbreak.

The immunization drive has also slowed down in part because of worries over the safety of the vaccine produced by local pharmaceutical company Adimmune Corp., and the Cabinet-level Department of Health (DOH) responded by allowing people to choose between the Adimmune vaccine and that produced by Swiss-based Novartis.

The DOH hoped the choice would boost the immunization rate, but not as many people showed up for shots on the first day of the new measure as had been expected, according to Shih.

In Taipei City, only 33 adults and six children received shots of the Novartis vaccine at Taipei Veterans General Hospital during the day, while 13 adults and 24 children received the Adimmune vaccine, Shih said.

Shih repeated his call for people to be immunized, saying that if one gets the shot before Jan. 23, one can be safe from a flu attack during the Chinese New Year holiday in February, which is when the H1N1 outbreak is expected to hit its peak.
(By Chen Li-tien and Elizabeth Hsu)

Just a moment...

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1151611&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_taiwan&cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng

**Pathfinder** · January 11, 2010, 12:13 PM

Re: Taiwan gives H1N1 vaccine choice to public

DOH to consider returning surplus H1N1 vaccines

01/11/2010 (CNA)
The Department of Health (DOH) is considering whether to return some of the 4.85 million doses of influenza A (H1N1) vaccine that are scheduled to be delivered later this month, to avoid waste of the vaccine because of the low immunization rate.

Although the public now has a choice between locally produced and imported H1N1 vaccines, the immunization rate has not risen since the imported vaccine became available last weekend, said Shih Wen-yih, deputy director-general of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Fewer than 7,000 people received the H1N1 vaccine Saturday and Sunday, he said, noting that 4,400 people chose the Swiss company's Novartis vaccine, while 2,400 opted for Taiwan's Adimmune product.

Last week, the H1N1 immunization rate was about 20,000 people per weekday, according to CDC data.

CDC Director Steve Hsu-Sung Kuo said there is no clear return policy in the vaccine procurement contract. So far, fewer than 6 million people have been inoculated, he noted, adding that health authorities will explore the possibility of returning surplus vaccine doses.

Some 2 million doses of the Adimmune vaccine and 2.85 million doses of the Novartis product will be delivered in mid- January, the CDC said.

Very few people have been seeking the H1N1 shots recently, therefore, the vaccine is not being offered on a daily basis unless there are specific numbers of registrants, according to Lin Yin-jan and Shih hsien-yen, two doctors who run clinics in Taipei City.

Because the vaccine must be used within 24 hours after a vial is opened, most hospitals and clinics required individuals to register in advance for the flu shot.

Adimmune has started to follow Novartis' lead, packaging the vaccine in 10-dose vials, but most of the local vaccines still come in 40-dose vials.

In order to avoid waste, the number of daily reservations for the vaccines has been reduced, the doctors added.

With the immunization drive slowing down in the wake of some highly publicized cases of serious side effects from the Adimmune vaccine, the DOH decided earlier this month to offer a choice between the Adimmune and Novartis vaccines.

The CDC said last week it hopes that the immunization rate will rise to 30 percent of the country's population by the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February.

http://www.taiwanheadlines.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=176597&CtNode=39

**tropical** · January 11, 2010, 12:56 PM

Re: Taiwan gives H1N1 vaccine choice to public

#1:
"With the immunization drive slowing down in the wake of some highly publicized cases of serious side effects from the Adimmune vaccine, the DOH decided earlier this month to offer a choice between the Adimmune and Novartis vaccines."

**Pathfinder** · January 20, 2010, 01:35 PM

Re: Taiwan gives H1N1 vaccine choice to public

Updated Wednesday, January 20, 2010 9:51 am TWN, The China Post news staff
CDC to enforce 2nd national vaccination campaign

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced plans to enforce a second national vaccination campaign from Feb. 1 to Feb. 13, with vaccination stations to be set up at four airports in the country ? Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and Kaohsiung to allow travelers who hold Republic of China passports, Taiwan residence permits or working permits to receive the vaccine, free of charge, at those points.

Those people will have the choice of either the locally produced or Swiss-made H1N1 vaccine, said CDC Deputy Director Shih Wen-yi.

In light of the possibility that H1N1 infections could surge during the upcoming winter break and Chinese New Year holiday in February, people who wish to get the vaccine should call the hotline 1922 to book an appointment, he said.

Meanwhile, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported yesterday the third case of a pregnant woman who had died from H1N1 since the outbreak of the virus in Taiwan.

She was the 10th pregnant woman to be hospitalized with the flu and her death brought the number of H1N1 fatalities in the country to 38.

According to the CECC, the 33-year-old woman was 21 weeks into her term and had not been immunized against the H1N1 virus.

She developed flu symptoms on Dec. 31, and lost her baby earlier this month before succumbing to the infection Jan. 16.

Citing CECC statistics, Shih stated that five of the 10 pregnant hospitalized women were discharged from hospital with both the mother and baby in sound condition. Two of the women and their babies died, one woman died while her baby survived, and in two cases, the women survived while their babies died, he said.

Also yesterday, President Ma Ying-jeou touted the efficacy of the H1N1 vaccine against the virus and urged people around Taiwan to get immunized.

Ma noted that many people were affected by the new flu strain when it first struck Taiwan last May, with some 1,800 school classes having to close at one point to prevent the spread of the virus.

Thanks to the locally produced H1N1 vaccine that came on the market last October, and an imported vaccine, the flu outbreak has been effectively brought under control, he said. This is evident in the fact that the number of classes that have had to close because of H1N1 outbreaks has dropped to one, Ma said.

Taiwan began a national immunization program last Nov. 1. So far, 5.6 million people have been vaccinated, accounting for 24 percent of the total population. The inoculation rate is the fourth highest in the world, behind that of Sweden, Canada and Holland, Ma said, emphasizing that the vaccine is free of charge in Taiwan.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2010/01/20/241522/CDC-to.htm

**Pathfinder** · January 22, 2010, 09:46 AM

Re: Taiwan gives H1N1 vaccine choice to public

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="92%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=en_content_title width="66%" colSpan=2>Taiwan to launch home H1N1 vaccination service

</TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=5></TD></TR><TR><TD class=author width="59%">Central News Agency
2010-01-22 07:04 PM
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Taipei, Jan. 22 (CNA) Taiwan's health authorities announced a plan for a home H1N1 vaccination service to boost the inoculation rate, which has dropped to new lows due to concerns over the vaccine's safety.

Groups of at least 10 people from companies, institutions or communities can apply to local health authorities between Jan. 25-29 to make a reservation for the new service, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director Shih Wen-yi said.

The service will be completed by Feb. 12 before the week-long Lunar New Year holiday starting from Feb. 13, which Shih said is often the peak flu period.

The number of vaccine doses consumed hit new lows of 8,000 and 5,600 over the past two days, according to Shih.

Taiwan began a national immunization program Nov. 1 last year and 5.6 million people, or 24 percent of the population, have been vaccinated to date.

A total of 38 people in Taiwan have died from the H1N1 virus since the outbreak began.

To further encourage people to get H1N1 shots, free vaccination services will be offered at airports in Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and Kaohsiung in northern, central and southern Taiwan respectively beginning Feb. 1, Shih noted.

Taiwanese citizens and those who have a residence or working permit can be vaccinated for free upon their entry into Taiwan, Shih said, but travelers leaving the country are not eligible for the service. (By Chen Li-ting and Alex Jiang)

Just a moment...

http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=1162341&lang=eng_news&cate_img=49.jpg&cate_rss=news_Society

**Pathfinder** · January 25, 2010, 09:22 AM

Re: Taiwan gives H1N1 vaccine choice to public

Updated Sunday, January 24, 2010 12:21 am TWN, CNA
CDC, prosecutors in joint probes into boy's death

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will fully cooperate with judicial authorities in investigating the death of a 7-year-old boy who died several weeks after being vaccinated against influenza A (H1N1), according to an official.

?We respect judicial authorities and are willing to cooperate with prosecutors,? said CDC Deputy Director-General Shih Wen-yi.

His remarks came after the boy's father, a physician, challenged a forensic report that attributed his son's death to a blood disorder ? hemophagocytic syndrome ? that was triggered by the B19 parvovirus.

The report also concluded that a link between the boy's death and H1N1 vaccine produced by Taiwan's Adimmune Corp. could not be proved.

The father issued a statement earlier Friday in which he raised doubts about the report because his son did not show major symptoms of hemophagocytic syndrome, except for fever.

In the statement released by Taichung City Councilor Chang Yao-chung, the father, identified only by his family name Liu, expressed the hope that autopsy samples could be sent abroad for further pathological examinations.

The Taichung Prosecutors Office said the prosecutors in charge of the case will study the feasibility and necessity of Liu's request.

?If the presiding prosecutors find that a further examination is necessary, the request may be accepted, ? said Hsu Hsi-hsiang, a senior prosecutor at the Taichung office.

According to the autopsy report issued Wednesday, the B19 parvovirus has not been found in the H1N1 vaccine after cultivation, leading prosecutors to conclude that there was no direct link between Liu's death and the vaccine.

Prosecutors said they will further investigate alleged dereliction of duty by doctors involved in the case.

CDC official Wang Jen-Hsien said the B19 virus, the main cause of children's rash, is commonly seen in pediatric medicine. Macrophages, a type of white blood cell, usually ingest the B19 virus to protect the human body.
If there is something wrong in the immune transformation, however, the macrophages will attack blood vessels, which describes hemophagocytic syndrome.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2010/01/24/242066/CDC-prosecutors.htm

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Taiwan gives H1N1 vaccine choice to public

Taiwan gives H1N1 vaccine choice to public

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