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(Central News Agency reporter Zhang Mingxuan, Taipei 4th) Zhuang Renxiang, spokesperson for the Epidemic Central Command Center, confirmed today that Taiwan will be included in the first wave of the COVAX vaccine distribution list and share 1.3 million doses of AstraZeneca (AZ) with other non-UN members. The vaccine is expected to be available within a week of its arrival from February to June.
The World Health Organization (WHO) led the global vaccine procurement mechanism (COVAX) platform of the Wuhan pneumonia vaccine (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19), with the participation of some 190 countries in the world. The first batch of mailing lists was announced yesterday, and it is expected to be available before the middle of this year. Participating countries have enough vaccines for more than 3% of the national population, but Taiwan is not on the list.
Zhuang Renxiang said in the afternoon that since Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, it is not included in the list. Instead, it is clustered with 5 to 8 non-United Nations members. However, it is still in the first wave. of distribution lists and will be based on the order status and population of each country, etc., to jointly distribute 1.3 million doses of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine.
Faced with the media frequently asking about the vaccine delivery schedule, the command center commander Chen Shizhong repeatedly stressed that he would explain to the outside world if there is news. However, until this afternoon’s press conference on the epidemic, Chen Shizhong did not reveal the news that Taiwan has obtained the vaccine.
Zhuang Renxiang explained that the main reason Chen Shizhong has not explained so far is that the AZ vaccine has not been authorized for emergency use by the WHO and the delivery schedule has not been determined. The authorization is expected to be issued in late February, and delivery will be between February and June at the earliest. It can be delivered within a week after delivery; According to the WHO vaccine list, AZ vaccines are divided into 2 vaccine models, one is from Korea factory, the other is from Indian factory, and Taiwan is mainly distributed to Korean factory.
Zhuang Renxiang noted that the vaccine obtained this time is expected to be used by the same group of people, with a total of 2 doses. The first-line medical staff of the specialized hospital will give priority to vaccination. Taoyuan Hospital doctors and nurses can also be included in the first wave of the vaccination list.
He said that in the future, after the WHO authorizes the AZ vaccine for emergency use, countries will be notified of the actual quantity and delivery schedule. Currently, the command center is also actively communicating with COVAX for delivery and customs declaration. the AZ vaccine only needs to be between 2 and 2 degrees Celsius. It can be stored and transported at 8 ° C. No special cold chain technology is required. Transportation should not be a problem, but whether it will be transported by national air is still undecided.
Additionally, Taiwan and COVAX paid a large deposit upon signing the contract, and had a choice of vaccine brands. Why did they only get the AZ vaccine? Zhuang Renxiang said that if this wave is not assigned to the Pfizer BNT vaccine, it may be the next wave and the future There may also be other vaccine brands gradually entering the COVAX platform. (Edition: Guan Zhongwei) 1100204
Command Center: Taiwan Listed on First Wave of COVAX Vaccine Delivery List
(Central News Agency reporter Zhang Minghuan, Taipei 4th) Epidemic Central Command Center spokesman Zhuang Renxiang confirmed today that Taiwan has confirmed that it will be in the first wave of the COVAX vaccine delivery list and will distribute approximately 1.3 million doses of Vaccine AZ with 5 to 8 non-UN members. Actively communicate with COVAX for delivery and customs declaration.
To spread risks and accelerate the procurement of vaccines against Wuhan pneumonia (Covid-19), Taiwan purchases vaccines through three channels, including participation in the Wuhan Pneumonia Vaccine Global Procurement Mechanism (COVAX) platform. ) led by the World Health Organization (WHO), and Negotiate with manufacturers and manufacture domestically.
According to information previously announced by the command center, by the end of last year, Taiwan had negotiated the purchase of about 20 million doses of vaccines, including about 4.76 million doses of COVAX, about 10 million doses. from AstraZeneca (AZ) and around 5 million doses from another vaccine factory. They are being negotiated and the earliest delivery schedule is expected to be in March.
When the vaccine arrives, Chen Shizhong, the commander of the command center, only said that as long as there is news, it will be announced.
COVAX announced the first batch of vaccine delivery lists yesterday, and Taiwan is not among them, but Zhuang Renxiang confirmed that Taiwan is on the first wave list because it is not a member of the WHO.
According to a press release issued by the command center in the afternoon, Zhuang Renxiang said that COVAX announced the first batch of vaccine delivery lists on the 3rd, of which a total of about 1.3 million doses of AZ will be assigned. outside the United Nations Member states and countries will be notified of the actual number and delivery schedule. The command center has been actively communicating with COVAX for transportation, customs declaration and other related matters. (Editor: Li Mingzong) 1100204
