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BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is a severe global health crisis. Wearing a mask is a straightforward action that can be taken, but shortage of stock and equity of allocation were important issues in Taiwan. Furthermore, increased anxiety leading to the stockpiling of masks has been common during the pandemic. ObjectiveWe aim to summarize the name-based mask rationing plan implemented in Taiwan and explore the public’s perceived anxiety about mask shortages. MethodsThe government of Taiwan took action to control the supply and allocation of face masks. We summarize the timeline and important components of the mask rationing plan. A survey that aimed to investigate the overall response to the mask rationing plan was answered by 44 participants. ResultsThe mask rationing plan was implemented in late January 2020. Daily production capacity was increased from 2 million masks to 16 million masks in April 2020. People could buy 9 masks in 14 days by verification via their National Health Insurance card. Digital face mask availability maps were created. Moreover, the mask plan safeguarded the purchase of masks and resulted in decreased anxiety about a mask shortage (4.05 [SD 1.15] points; 72.7% [n=32] of participants answered “agree” or “strongly agree”). The majority of people felt that the mask plan was satisfactory (4.2 [SD 0.92] points; 79.5% [n=35] of participants answered “agree” or “strongly agree”). ConclusionsWe found that the unique name-based mask rationing plan allowed for control of the production and supply of masks, and contributed to the appropriate allocation of masks. The mask rationing plan not only provided the public with physical protection, but also resulted in reduced anxiety about mask shortages during the pandemic.

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is an important health crisis worldwide. Several strategies were implemented to combat COVID-19, including wearing masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing. The impact of these strategies on COVID-19 and other viral infections remains largely unclear. ObjectiveWe aim to investigate the impact of implemented infectious control strategies on the incidences of influenza, enterovirus infection, and all-cause pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsWe utilized the electronic database of the Taiwan National Infectious Disease Statistics System and extracted incidences of COVID-19, influenza virus, enterovirus, and all-cause pneumonia. We compared the incidences of these diseases from week 45 of 2016 to week 21 of 2020 and performed linear regression analyses. ResultsThe first case of COVID-19 in Taiwan was reported in late January 2020 (week 4). Infectious control strategies have been promoted since late January. The influenza virus usually peaks in winter and decreases around week 14. However, a significant decrease in influenza was observed after week 6 of 2020. Regression analyses produced the following results: 2017, R2=0.037; 2018, R2=0.021; 2019, R2=0.046; and 2020, R2=0.599. A dramatic decrease in all-cause pneumonia was also reported (R2 values for 2017-2020 were 0.435, 0.098, 0.352, and 0.82, respectively). Enterovirus had increased by week 18 in 2017-2019, but this was not observed in 2020. ConclusionsUsing this national epidemiological database, we found a significant decrease in cases of influenza, enterovirus, and all-cause pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wearing masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing may contribute not only to the prevention of COVID-19 but also to the decline of other respiratory infectious diseases. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the causal relationship.

Background: The protracted battle against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a profound impact on various facets of society. The epidemiology of several diseases underwent alterations following the implementation of social restrictive strategies and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI). Methods: In response to these changes, we conducted a retrospective nationwide surveillance study to investigate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections during the pandemic. Weekly incidences of gonorrhea, syphilis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and enterovirus were extracted from the national surveillance database. Results: Over the period from 2015 to 2022, a sustained increase in gonorrhea notifications was evident (linear trend with a rising slope of 0.24 and an R-squared value of 0.62). When comparing the pre-pandemic period (2017–2019) with the pandemic period (2020–2022), a significant surge in gonorrhea notifications was observed (85 notifications per week pre-pandemic vs 143 notifications during the pandemic, representing a 68% increase, P < 0.01). Further interrupted time series analysis revealed a significant monthly increase of 3.79 gonorrhea notifications during the pandemic. Conversely, declines in syphilis, HIV, and enterovirus incidences were noted (186 vs 177, 41 vs 25, and 3906 vs 2863 weekly notifications for syphilis, HIV, and enterovirus, respectively). A literature review indicated conflicting epidemiological trends in different regions. Conclusions: Our study highlights a significant rise in gonorrhea notifications during the pandemic. Despite disruptions to gonorrhea testing and medical services, and the implementation of NPI, there was no significant decrease in the incidence of gonorrhea in Taiwan. Gonorrhea emerged as a critical public health concern during the pandemic. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, societal shifts prompted a retrospective study on sexually transmitted infections in Taiwan. Gonorrhea cases surged despite pandemic measures, contrasting declines in syphilis, HIV, and enterovirus during the pandemic. This highlights gonorrhea's resilience and calls for deeper investigations into its dynamics amid crises. The study underscores the complexity of public health management during pandemics and emphasizes the importance of comprehensive surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) causes hand, foot, and mouth disease in infants and children with potential for fatal complications such as encephalitis and acute flaccid myelitis. This study examined the long-term immunity conferred by EV71vac, an inactivated EV-A71 vaccine adjuvanted with aluminum phosphate, in children from the age of 2 months to <6 years, for up to 5 years after the first immunization. A total of 227 participants between 2 months and <6 years of age who had previously received either EV71vac or placebo in the phase two clinical study were enrolled. Subjects were divided into age groups: 2 years to <6 years (Group 2b), 6 months to <2 years (Group 2c), and 2 months to <6 months (Group 2d). At Year 5, the neutralizing antibody titers against the B4 subgenotype remained high at 621.38 to 978.20, 841.40 to 1159.93, and 477.71 to 745.07 for Groups 2b, 2c, and 2d, respectively. Cross-neutralizing titers at Year 5 remained high against B5 and C4a subgenotypes, respectively. No long-term safety issues were reported. Our study provides novel insights into the long-term immunity conferred by EV71vac in children aged from two months to six years, particularly in those who received EV71vac between two and six months of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential adverse effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations raise public concerns. Data from Taiwan's Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) can provide valuable insights. This study analyzed the preliminary application data for COVID-19 vaccine compensation in Taiwan's VICP, focusing on applicants receiving vaccines between March 2021 and June 2022. Among the 2941 adverse events, 113 cases (3.8%) were deemed causally associated with vaccination, 313 (10.6%) were indeterminate, and 2515 (85.5%) had no causal association. Nearly half (47.6%) of the applicants were over 60 years old, and 76.6% had a history of pre-existing chronic diseases. Among the 426 vaccine-associated or indeterminate cases, the most common causes were hematological diseases and thrombosis. There were 920 mortality cases reported, and 97.4% were unassociated with vaccination. Only five deaths were judged to be associated with the COVID-19 vaccination, all involving the adenovirus vector vaccine and thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. In conclusion, most compensation applications were not causally linked to vaccination. Compared to other countries, the number of applications in Taiwan's VICP is relatively high. These findings may indicate a need to adjust the application requirements for compensation in Taiwan's program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]