Taiwan Centers for Disease Control

Taiwan began its annual public flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign on October 1st, as both respiratory viruses circulate at elevated levels.

The Centers for Disease Control's Lo Yi-Chun said this week could mark the season's flu peak, with single-week clinic visits possibly reaching 150,000.

As of September 28th, flu had caused 1,368 severe cases and 261 deaths this year, while COVID-19 added 716 severe cases and 141 deaths, a combined 402 fatalities.

Health Minister Shih Chung-Liang said the outbreak could persist into mid-November.