Medical Institutions Flooded with Calls for Flu Vaccine Reservations
Following the sad news that Taiwanese actress Hsu Hsi-yuan (徐熙媛, Seo Huiwon), wife of singer Gu Junyeop from the group Clon, passed away after her flu worsened into pneumonia, many Taiwanese people have been rushing to get flu vaccinations.
On the 4th, local media such as China Times and Liberty Times reported that after the 9-day Lunar New Year holiday ended, citizens were shocked by the news on their first day back to work and flocked to medical institutions to receive flu shots, raising awareness about the flu.
A health official in Tainan, southern Taiwan, said in an interview, "After the news of Ms. Hsu's death was announced, the number of people wanting vaccinations suddenly increased by about 30%," adding, "There are now lines of 20 to 30 people waiting for vaccinations at local medical institutions." The official also mentioned that the remaining 7,000 doses (single-dose vaccinations) of flu vaccine leftover since October last year were fully booked within three hours.
A health official in Taichung, central Taiwan, also reported that most of the phone calls to medical institutions are inquiries about flu vaccine reservations. They explained, "Currently, the city only has about 38,000 doses of vaccine available." In the eastern Hualien region, calls inquiring about vaccine availability are also pouring in.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated at a temporary press briefing the day before that "from the 19th to the 25th of last month, the number of patients visiting clinics due to influenza reached approximately 162,000, the highest in 10 years." The government has about 200,000 remaining doses of flu vaccine available, which can be administered at 3,073 medical institutions. They also mentioned that if necessary, individuals can receive flu vaccinations at their own expense.
Taiwanese media reported the day before, citing a statement from Hsu Hsi-di, Hsu Hsi-yuan’s younger sister and broadcaster, that Ms. Hsu died from pneumonia.
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