The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) today announced that it would extend its free antiviral medication program until March 15 in response to the most severe flu season in recent years.
In December last year, the CDC expanded eligibility criteria for publicly funded flu antiviral drugs until Feb. 28.
Today it announced that it would extend the program for another two weeks.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
Those eligible are people with flu-like symptoms who have one or more household members, coworkers or classmates diagnosed with the flu, allowing them to access medication without needing to take a flu test.
Flu cases remain at peak levels, with flu-related complications and deaths at their highest level in a decade, CDC Deputy Director-General Tseng Shu-hui (曾淑慧) said.
Officials expect the flu season to last until next month, Tseng added.
The CDC currently has 2 million doses in reserve and can administer 30,000 to 40,000 doses per week, although it would evaluate its existing stockpiles, she said.
This stockpile is in line with the CDC’s goal of having enough medicine to treat 10 to 12 percent of the population and is sufficient to meet demand for this flu season, she added.
The CDC is cautious regarding the overuse of antibiotics and would adjust the program based on the evolving situation, Tseng added.
When caring for patients with influenza-like symptoms, doctors should inquire about the person's medical history and carefully assess whether they meet the criteria for the use of antivirals, she said.
If the patient is eligible, then they can be prescribed free medication without needing a flu test to limit the flu’s spread and protect the public, she said.
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