People should wait at least seven days between getting the seasonal influenza vaccine and a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to better facilitate the monitoring of side effects, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Thursday.
Taiwan typically starts its government-funded flu vaccination program in October, as flu cases tend to climb in November and peak between December and March.
Students at elementary school to high school level generally receive their flu shots at school, and as those aged 12-17 are also scheduled to begin receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at their schools later this month, reporters asked CECC officials on Thursday how long apart the two shots should be spaced.
Citing advice from experts on Taiwan’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), CECC spokesperson Chuang Jen-hsiang (???) said that vaccine shots should be spaced at least seven days apart.
The main purpose for the gap is so that if individuals experience side effects from the vaccines, it will be more clear which one was the cause, Chuang said.
In terms of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, data in other countries show that around 70-80 percent of people aged 12-15 experience pain at the injection site after a shot, while 20 percent develop a fever, Chuang said.
There have also been reports of male adolescents experiencing myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, which is inflammation of the outer lining of the heart, after receiving the vaccine, he said.
Myocarditis and pericarditis symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart, he said, and people who experience these symptoms after getting a vaccine shot should see a doctor as soon as possible.
To better monitor side effects from the vaccine, Chuang said that students will be instructed to remain at the injection location for 30 minutes after getting the jab and the CECC will inform teachers of symptoms they should look out for in students.
Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (???) said there is a one in 100,000 chance of myocarditis/pericarditis after getting the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Students with severe allergies or with congenital heart issues should talk to their doctors before receiving the shot, Chen said.
Students aged 12-17 also need to present a consent form signed by their parents before getting a shot. They can also refuse to get it, he said.
Taiwan received its first shipment of 933,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine early Thursday morning.
The shipment is part of the 15 million doses procured by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Hon Hai Precision Co./YongLin Charity and the Buddhist humanitarian organization the Tzu Chi Foundation, which will all be donated to the government for distribution.
The inspection of the doses will be completed on Sept. 16 at the earliest, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Children aged 12-17 are first in line for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, as it is the only vaccine approved for the age group in Taiwan, followed by those aged 18-22. The CECC has not yet decided which group will come next in the rollout.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel