The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday advised the public to get the latest COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible, as new research shows the older versions offer “almost zero” protection against severe symptoms of the Omicron XBB variants.
Citing a new study on the variant’s outbreak in southern California, CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said that adults, the immunocompromised and the elderly are recommended to receive new vaccines.
The study said that adults who received older types of COVID-19 vaccines had the same hospitalization and severe symptom rates as the unvaccinated six to nine months after being vaccinated, Lo said.
Photo courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control via CNA
Meanwhile, recipients of jabs modified for Omicron XBB variants reported 63 percent and 58 percent lower rates of hospitalization and emergency department or urgent care contacts respectively, he said.
“The CDC strongly urges adults including young people and the elderly to be immunized with XBB vaccines at the earliest opportunity,” Lo said. “This will significantly reduce risks to personal health and medical costs during the winter epidemic season.”
The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to flare up next week due to an impending cold front, New Year and election-related gatherings, the CDC said in a news release, adding that cases of severe symptoms and complications have surged recently.
Hospital visits might reach as high as 18,000 to 20,000 people a day, it said.
Taiwan has received 462,800 doses of Novavax COVID-19 XBB vaccines, which are to become available beginning on Tuesday next week, the CDC said.
A dose of the Novavax or Moderna vaccine should offer sufficient protection and there is no need to get redundant jabs, it said, adding that vaccines are offered at 3,000 hospitals and clinics, including 1,665 that do not require appointments.
Further information can be found on the CDC Web site’s “vaccination for the fall-winter period” section (秋冬疫苗專區).
Separately, the CDC on Thursday reported the distribution of 20,436 COVID-19 rapid test kits at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on the first day the tests were distributed free of charge to travelers.
Government-funded test kits are being offered to outbound and inbound international travelers at the airport from 7am to 10:30pm every day until the end of the Lunar New Year holiday.
The figure represented 30 percent of all people entering or leaving the nation, including 12,792 tests claimed by departing passengers and 7,644 tests claimed by arriving passengers, it said.
The scheme exceeded the CDC’s expectations and an extension of the program is being mulled, the CDC said, adding that the nation has a reserve of 2,707 tests with use-by dates ranging from next month to April.
This story has been amended since it was first published.
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