Legislative Yuan Holds Public Hearing: Taiwan Health Alliance Calls for Comprehensive Lifespan Immunity Protection Policies

Legislators Wang Zhengxu, Lin Yueqin, Wu Lihua, Huang Xiufang, and the Taiwan Health Alliance convened a public hearing titled 'Lifespan Immunity Protection for All Taiwanese' at the Legislative Yuan on the 22nd. The event brought together experts from the medical and public health fields to review and make recommendations on disease prevention and policy for both infants and adults. Most experts agreed that Taiwan's immunization policies must align with international trends, and the government should include cost-effective vaccines and antibody treatments in public funding, along with ensuring greater and more stable investment in vaccine funds.

Taiwan's birthrate continues to decline, with this year (2026) potentially falling below 100,000 newborns. Meanwhile, in 2025, the population aged 65 and above surpassed 20%, officially marking Taiwan's entry into a super-aged society. This demographic imbalance highlights the growing health and medical challenges of an aging population. Therefore, the hearing focused on preventable diseases affecting both infants and adults, emphasizing the importance of investing in preventive tools such as vaccines and antibodies. Such proactive measures aim not only to establish a comprehensive immunity defense across all age groups but also to strengthen societal resilience in the face of a super-aged society.

Legislator Wang Zhengxu emphasized that preventive medicine should be the cornerstone of a healthy Taiwan, identifying the 'intergenerational protection gap' as the main reason for gaps in lifespan immunity. While Taiwan's childhood vaccination program is exemplary, he stressed the need to enhance adult vaccination rates to reduce immunity gaps in an aging society and improve overall public health security. Legislator Lin Yueqin pointed out that influenza vaccination rates are lowest among the elderly and recommended strengthening proactive health education by medical professionals, institutionalizing adult vaccination records, and enhancing health education for residents and families in long-term care facilities. Legislator Huang Xiufang highlighted that while some counties subsidize shingles vaccines, limited supply has led to seniors queuing overnight to get vaccinated, a situation she said contradicts the very purpose of protecting elderly health.

Wu Yuqin, Chairperson of the Taiwan Health Alliance, explained that achieving comprehensive lifespan immunity has been the alliance's core advocacy, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the importance of health protection across all age groups. The alliance has released the '2025 Adult Vaccination Program White Paper' and the '2026 Taiwan Infant and Family Health Care and RSV Protection Awareness Survey' to raise awareness. Wu called on the Ministry of Health and Welfare and legislators to promptly integrate national immunization policies, ensuring equitable access to health protection regardless of household income or regional fiscal disparities. As the disease burden shifts toward adults, she urged the government to invest proactively in public health. For example, she recommended prioritizing publicly funded shingles vaccination for those aged 75 and above, as well as for Indigenous people and those with major illnesses aged 65 and above, as a step toward a comprehensive adult vaccination policy.

Dr. Lee Ping-ying, Chairperson of the Taiwan Vaccination Advocacy Association, emphasized the significant positive impact of vaccines on public health, calling them essential for a healthy Taiwan. He noted that in the 20th century, all but one of Taiwan's top ten infectious causes of child mortality—excluding malaria—were drastically reduced or eliminated through vaccination. In contrast, adult vaccination rates remain suboptimal. He stressed the importance of improving public awareness and establishing a systematic adult vaccination record system. Dr. Lee also stated that vaccines like the shingles vaccine are cost-effective, but their inclusion in public funding competes with other national policies for limited resources. Therefore, greater vaccine budget allocation is needed, as the health benefits of vaccines exceed previous expectations.

Dr. Chen Po-yen, Director of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Division at Taichung Veterans General Hospital, noted that Taiwan has a much higher prevalence of postnatal care centers and 'zuo yuezi' (confinement) centers compared to Western countries—a unique phenomenon. However, infection control measures in these facilities often need improvement, posing potential risks of infant outbreaks from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pertussis, and enteroviruses. These risks can be mitigated through targeted vaccination programs.

Professor Chen Hsiu-hsi, from the Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine at National Taiwan University's School of Public Health, emphasized from a public health perspective that adult vaccines are crucial in preventing the worsening of chronic diseases and reducing long-term care needs. She stressed that the mindset must shift: vaccination is no longer just about preventing infection but also about preventing severe illness, disability, and chronic deterioration. She explained that shingles vaccines were initially excluded from public funding due to past policies focusing on herd immunity. However, as quality of life and healthy life expectancy gain importance, public demand has surged. She recommended using AI to develop personalized vaccine recommendations and urged that vaccines not be excluded from the national health insurance budget. She also proposed establishing a dedicated vaccine safety fund, modeled after the NHI's reserve fund.

Professor Lee Szu-hsien from the Department of Health Promotion and Health Education at National Taiwan Normal University emphasized the need to strengthen the concept of 'health promotion and investment in Taiwan' as the population ages rapidly. Citing a 2023 estimate by the UK Office of Health Economics, he noted that investing in adult vaccines yields approximately a 19-fold return. Using shingles vaccination as an example, he explained that it enhances health resilience, strengthens healthcare system resilience, and contributes to broader societal resilience. However, compared to other A10 nations, Taiwan remains an outlier—while Sweden is the only exception, nine countries including the UK, Japan, and Australia already offer publicly funded shingles vaccines.

Dr. Cheng Shao-yi, Director of the Department of Family Medicine at National Taiwan University Hospital, noted that Taiwan's childhood vaccination rates are among the highest globally, but adult vaccination has significant room for improvement. Citing a recent survey by the Family Medicine Association, she revealed that about 80% of the public are willing to consider shingles vaccination, with willingness increasing if it is publicly funded. Recent local studies using the National Health Insurance database show that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for shingles vaccination in adults aged 50 and above is below the willingness-to-pay threshold (WTP), indicating strong cost-effectiveness.

Dr. Lo Yi-chun, Director of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, expressed hope for continued advocacy to secure more stable investment in vaccine funds. He stated that the Ministry will re-evaluate current immunization policies in light of the recommendations from legislators and experts, studying the feasibility of including non-publicly funded immunization items into the national program by referencing advanced healthcare systems. The goal is to continuously refine Taiwan's vaccination policies to meet the WHO's 2030 Immunization Agenda targets.