[Jiangsu News Network Comprehensive News] On the morning of the 3rd local time, news suddenly came from Taiwan that the first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Taiwan. Previously, there was news that this batch of vaccines was provided by the World Health Organizati

[Jiangsu News Network Comprehensive News] On the morning of the 3rd local time, news suddenly came from Taiwan that the first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Taiwan. Previously, there was news that this batch of vaccines was provided by the World Health Organization-led COVID-19 Vaccine Implementation Plan (COVAX). However, Chen Shizhong, commander of the Taiwan Epidemic Command Center, said at the 2 pm epidemic press conference that the 117,000 doses of vaccines arrived in Taiwan this time were part of the 10 million doses of Oxford AZ vaccine purchased directly from pharmaceutical factories. He himself only learned about the news that the vaccine was to arrive in Taiwan at around 9 am.

The first batch of vaccines arrived in Taiwan at 10:21 am on the 3rd, with a total of 117,000 doses. (Photo source: Central News Agency)

Central News Agency reported that the first batch of vaccines obtained by Taiwan arrived at Taoyuan Airport by Korean Air (KE691 flight) at around 10 a.m. on the 3rd, and is expected to be sent to the warehouse in Taoyuan. The Food and Drug Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare will be inspected and sealed, and the fight will be started within 7 days. However, Chen Shizhong said that this is the first batch of vaccines after all, and it needs to be cautious in the inspection and it will take some time to confirm that the procedures are correct before they can be released.

Chen Shizhong said that although he also hopes to know the arrival schedule of the vaccine as soon as possible, since the world is currently rushing for vaccines, the command center has completed all preparations, and it is no problem for the vaccine to arrive in Taiwan at any time.

Regularly speaking, the vaccine requires two doses to have complete protection, so 117,000 doses can only provide 50,000 people with vaccination. However, Chen Shizhong emphasized that since the interval between the two doses of vaccine is more than 8 weeks, this time the vaccine will be the first dose of vaccine for 117,000 front-line high-risk medical staff, ensuring that the wider the protection range, the better. The second batch of vaccines will be opened for vaccination by staff who have not been directly contacted.

, spokesperson of the Central Epidemic Command Center, Zhuang Renxiang, said at a press conference on the 3rd that after the 117,000 doses are sealed and released in the future, they will be sent to 100 to 200 medical hospitals across Taiwan, and an appointment system will also be set up. The first phase is expected to be provided to dedicated medical staff. If it happens to be the same hospital, you can take the shot at the same hospital. As long as you confirm your identity with the health insurance card through the appointment system, you will take the shot.

Some media asked whether the command center has already made a list of medical personnel who are willing to be vaccinated. Chen Shizhong said that anyone who is eligible to be vaccinated will be included. As for the willingness of medical personnel to be vaccinated, it is their personal choice. If there is a vaccine left in the future, other groups with higher risk levels will be opened down.

At a previous outbreak of a clustered epidemic in Taoyuan, it attracted attention. Taipei's China Times quoted Taoyuan Mayor Zheng Wencan as saying that Taoyuan had completed the booking of medical staff from 11 hospitals responsible for emergency treatment on February 20, and I believe this part will be listed as the top priority list.

The outside world is curious that since there is already a vaccine, when will Taiwan be unblocked? Chen Shizhong pointed out that the vaccine coverage of the people in Taiwan must reach at least 60% before they will consider loosening the public health epidemic prevention policy. The situation is still a bit far away at this stage.

According to the latest epidemic prevention resilience ranking previously released by Bloomberg, Taiwan was originally ranked second or third, but fell to seventh place this month. The main factor is the number of vaccines obtained and the per capita vaccine coverage rate are far lower than other countries or regions. (End)