President Tsai Ing-wen said July 21 that Taiwan’s COVID-19 vaccine procurement is proceeding as planned, with the country’s inoculation rate expected to reach 25 percent before the end of the month.
Case in point, Tsai said in a post on her official Facebook account, is the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s authorization of a homegrown vaccine for emergency use following successful efficacy and safety tests. Developed by Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp. in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu County, the product is set for rollout pending an announcement by the Central Epidemic Command Center, she added.
According to Tsai, great strides are also being made in related public-private sector collaboration. The government is grateful to Yonglin Foundation/Foxconn Group, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation for each donating 5 million BioNTech vaccine doses, she said.
A special import permit is being arranged for these 15 million shots by the Centers for Disease Control under the MOHW, Tsai said. Upon arrival, they will be distributed by relevant agencies, with those aged 12 to 18 included in the public allocation, she added.
Another central plank in Taiwan’s vaccination drive is the reservation system developed by Digital Minister Audrey Tang, Tsai said. Those using the platform deserve full credit for protecting themselves while safeguarding the health of loved ones and strengthening Taiwan’s pandemic fightback, she added. (SFC-E)
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