Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (???) on Thursday confirmed that Taiwan has secured a batch of Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT) vaccine that only became available recently, without disclosing when it will be shipped to the country.

“We are glad that our bid to obtain the vaccine succeeded,” Chen said at a Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) press briefing, expressing gratitude to those involved in the effort.

According to Chen, the vaccine was originally ordered by BNT’s Greater China Distributor, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. from the German manufacturer and was destined for China.

However, the Chinese authorities have not approved emergency use authorization (EUA) for the BNT vaccine, thus leaving the shots available for bids by other countries, said Chen, who also heads the CECC.

Chen did not reveal how many doses the batch will contain, nor did he say when the vaccine will arrive in Taiwan.

Nevertheless, a statement released by the CECC on Wednesday suggested the vaccine would “leave the factory” in late August.

Taiwan’s government has authorized Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), Hon Hai Precision Co.’s YongLin Charity and Education Foundation, and Tzu Chi Foundation to represent it in negotiations to purchase the BNT vaccine, following accusations that China was interfering in negotiations with the German company, which Beijing denied.

In July, the three organizations announced that they had purchased a total of 15 million BNT vaccine shots and that the doses would be donated to the government upon delivery.

Meanwhile, the government’s online registration and appointment system will soon allow people to register and indicate their willingness to receive a BNT jab as part of the plan to expand the BNT vaccination, Chen said, without providing a specific date.

The CECC has earlier decided to prioritize students aged 12-18 in the BNT vaccine rollout because it is the only brand that has been approved in Taiwan for use on that age group.

Eligible students are likely to receive their vaccine jabs at school, and older students will be vaccinated earlier than younger ones, Chen said.

The CECC also plans to expand access to the BNT vaccine so that adults will have a chance to obtain a BNT shot, starting with those on the government’s priority list, Chen said.

In addition to the BNT vaccine, Taiwan is expected to soon take delivery of more doses of other brands of vaccines it has ordered soon, Chen said.

He added the CECC’s goal is to ensure 70 percent of the population receive at least one vaccine dose by the end of the year, which would translate into 16.4 million people.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel