TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 疾管署), the island's primary public health authority, urged citizens Tuesday (April 22) to adhere strictly to established government-funded measles vaccination schedules amid growing concerns about resource allocation for vulnerable populations. Health officials revealed that Taiwan is currently experiencing its most significant surge of imported measles infections in six years, with 17 cases directly traced to Vietnam, raising alarms about potential domestic spread.
The concerning development comes as neighboring Vietnam grapples with a severe measles epidemic, recording more than 4,100 new infections and two fatalities in just a five-day period between April 12 and 17, pushing their national total to approximately 76,000 cases by mid-April. CDC spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) explained that Vietnam's outbreak stems primarily from declining immunization coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic across Southeast Asia. Vietnamese health authorities have responded with aggressive vaccination campaigns that have successfully boosted protection rates from 60-70% to nearly 95%, though Taiwanese officials still anticipate additional imported cases through June.
Taiwan's government-subsidized measles immunization protocol focuses primarily on children, administering initial doses at 12 months of age followed by a second shot before elementary school enrollment. Health officials emphasized that parents must prioritize adherence to this established timeline to maintain community protection. While commercial supplies of measles vaccines remain constrained across Taiwan's private healthcare sector, authorities expect relief by early May when an additional 30,000 doses will enter circulation, easing current shortages.
The current measles resurgence represents Taiwan's most significant outbreak since 2019, with epidemiological data pointing to travelers from Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines as the primary vectors of transmission. Public health officials maintain heightened surveillance protocols as they work to contain these imported cases and prevent domestic spread across the island, which has historically maintained strong vaccination rates compared to regional neighbors. ★
