To Avoid Problematic Flu Season, Asia Ramps Up Influenza Vaccinations

TOKYO/SEOUL/BEIJING, KOMPAS.com – Several Asian countries are pushing for earlier and more aggressive flu shots this year to minimize the risk of contracting the flu and Covid-19 virus simultaneously.

In various parts of Asia, crippling healthcare systems are being pushed to the brink of overcapacity as the number of Covid-19 cases in the region continues to swell.

With a second or third wave of the coronavirus pandemic looming for many countries, tackling this year's flu season — typically December through February — has taken on increased urgency.

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Japan’s Health Minister is preparing 31.2 million flu shots, up 7 percent from 2019 thus making it the highest amount since 2015.

Officials are also advising symptomatic patients to call medical hotlines before going for testing to avoid contagion at hospitals.

"We are going to focus our medical resources on the severely ill in anticipation of the seasonal influenza epidemic," Takeshi Enami, a Japanese Health Ministry official said last week after a meeting of disease experts.

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The World Health Organization has urged global widespread influenza vaccinations this year, amid concerns the same people who are most vulnerable to risks from Covid-19, such as the elderly and those with respiratory conditions, are also at greatest risk for the flu.

Data on the number of annual flu cases across Asia is limited, although Japan had about 12 million cases in the 2018/19 season, according to an official source.

In South Korea, health authorities are procuring 30 million flu vaccines for the winter season, up 20 percent from last year.

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Around 19 million people will be inoculated for free, covering a third of the country's population, up from 13.8 million a year ago.

Officials are also extending the demographic window for a free vaccination, this year covering children from six months to 18, adults over 61, and pregnant women.

South Korea's biggest flu vaccine maker GC Pharma told Reuters it will make over 10 million flu shots for this season, up from the 8.5 million doses last year.

In Taiwan, the government said it views the seasonal flu and the coronavirus as two separate concerns as they can control Covid-19 with existing strict rules, including mandatory quarantines.

Officials said late last month they planned to provide more than six million free doses this year.

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In China, where flu shots are typically not free, some local authorities have reported a surge in demand.

Disease prevention authorities in the Changning district of Shanghai city told local media they expect demand for flu shots in the autumn and winter to increase some 50 percent from previous years.

In Australia, where the flu season runs roughly from June to September, officials procured 16.5 million flu shots, up from 13.2 million last year.

The moves in Asia echo similar efforts in North America and Europe.

In the United States, pharmaceutical firms are expected to provide around 200 million flu shots this year, about 20 percent more than usual.

(Writer: Sayantani Ghosh | Editor: Jane Wardell) 

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-flu-shots-asia/asia-offers-more-flu-shots-to-head-off-covid-19-complications-idUSL4N2GB1XB