One Shot Done! Taiwan's CDC Announces Policy Change for Pneumococcal Vaccine, Outlining Vaccination Regulations for Three Major Groups

The CDC announced today (28th) that starting from August 10, the adult public-funded pneumococcal vaccine will be fully upgraded to 'one shot OK,' 'one shot done' PCV20 and PCV21 vaccines, completely replacing the old two-shot (PCV13 + PCV23) vaccines. The vaccination targets are elderly people aged 65 and above, indigenous people aged 55-64, and high-risk IPD individuals aged 19-64, with an estimated 3.17 million beneficiaries.

CDC Director Lu Yi-Jun stated that since January this year, the CDC has taken the lead in implementing the vaccine conversion policy for those who have never received the pneumococcal vaccine. The pneumococcal vaccine completion rate for the elderly aged 65 and above has increased from 31% before the policy implementation to 36%. Based on the clinical trial results of the new 20-valent and 21-valent vaccines, international vaccination recommendations, and the epidemiological trends of confirmed cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Taiwan, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare assessed that there is no superiority between the two vaccines and recommended continuing to provide vaccinations for the above three groups. It is expected that the completion rate will exceed 40% after the policy implementation.

Lu Yi-Jun mentioned that the CDC has allocated 900 million NT dollars to purchase 750,000 doses of the new PCV20 and PCV21 pneumococcal vaccines (450,000 doses of PCV20 and 300,000 doses of PCV21), with an average cost of approximately 4,500-5,500 NT dollars per dose. However, the CDC is still willing to invest in the elderly and high-risk groups for pneumococcal disease (including those with splenic dysfunction, congenital or acquired immune dysfunction, cochlear implants, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, those who have received immunosuppressive agents or radiation therapy for malignant tumors within the past year, and organ transplant recipients).

Lu Yi-Jun further explained that starting from August 10, individuals who meet any of the following conditions among the three public-funded groups can go to approximately 2,800 contracted medical institutions to receive one dose of the new public-funded pneumococcal vaccine (20-valent or 21-valent): 1. Those who have never received any pneumococcal vaccine (including 13-, 15-, 20-, 21-, and 23-valent vaccines) 2. Those who have received pneumococcal vaccines should follow the principles below for subsequent vaccinations: (a) Those who have only received the 23-valent vaccine and have had at least a one-year interval. (b) Those who have only received the 13- or 15-valent vaccine and have had at least a one-year interval (for IPD high-risk individuals or those aged 65 and above who are 'institutional residents' or 'dialysis patients,' at least an 8-week interval is required). (c) For those aged 19-64 who are IPD high-risk individuals, if they have completed the vaccination of one dose each of the 13-valent (or 15-valent) and 23-valent vaccines, they can receive one dose upon reaching the age of 65 (inclusive) and after an interval of 5 years or more from the previous dose.

Lu Yi-Jun reminded that if the elderly have previously received 'one dose each of the 13-valent (or 15-valent) and 23-valent vaccines,' '20-valent,' or '21-valent' vaccines, it means they have already completed the pneumococcal vaccine and obtained protective immunity, and there is no need to receive the new vaccine again.