Taiwan has witnessed a sharp rise in flu vaccinations after the tragic passing of actress Barbie Hsu, with demand surging to the point of overwhelming medical facilities and online resources.
According to CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui, Taiwan had secured 6.78 million flu vaccine doses this year, but only 200,000 remain. Given that the flu vaccine is publicly funded, authorities are urging high-risk groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible, Taiwan News reported.
The impact of this surge was particularly evident in Tainan City, where over 7,400 free flu vaccine doses were fully booked in under three hours on Monday afternoon. Similarly, Taichung Hospital’s Department of Family Medicine, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, reported a significant spike in patient numbers, while the CDC website struggled to handle the influx of inquiries, United Daily News noted.
Many people were prompted to get vaccinated after learning about Hsu’s death. The 49-year-old actress, best known for her role in Meteor Garden, fell ill during a family trip to Japan on January 29 and passed away on February 2. Her family later confirmed that she succumbed to influenza-related pneumonia, revealing that she had displayed severe health warning signs before her passing.
Health officials continue to stress the importance of vaccination, particularly for vulnerable groups, as the flu season intensifies.
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Source: Vietnam Insider