Vaccine stations to pepper transport terminals by CNY

Temporary immunization stations will be established at various locations, including Taipei Main Station, Taipei Bus Station, Taipei Sonshan Airport, Taoyuan International Airport, Taichung Airport, and Kaohsiung International Airport, said a Central News Agency (CNA) report.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Steve Kuo and Deputy Director-General Shih Wen-yi were cited as saying that so long as there are parties interested in receiving flu shots, the stations will run around the clock.

Residents could also pick the vaccine manufacturer of their liking - local producer Adimmune Corp. or Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, the officials said.

Shih noted that immunization stations at airports will either be set up in the arrival hall or an area that passengers can access before going through customs.

Prime operating hours will correspond to peak flight arrival times, he added.

During a meeting at the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) presided by Vice Premier Eric Chu, health officials acknowledged that the swine flu epidemic would be declared over by late March, although subject to a couple variables, wrote the CNA report.

According to Kuo, in anticipation of the high volume of domestic travel in the days preceding and during Chinese New Year holiday, not to mention the likelihood of increased social activity, there remains the chance of a sudden albeit brief surge in infection rates.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is also mulling over a decision to downgrade the novel A(H1N1) flu from a pandemic to a seasonal strain, which may be designated part of next fall's all-in-one vaccine, Kuo said.

Meanwhile, the CDC predicted that there will be a balance of nine million vaccine shots at the end of flu season.

The center purchased a total of 15 million doses in the last year, but demand was pummeled by a string of adverse-effect cases that garnered significant media coverage.

The current stockpile of vaccines will expire at the end of the year, Shih said.

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