Good News
CDC want to arrange a video call between Terry Gou’s charity, Biontech and the government to understand the situation regarding the original manufacturer authorization and see if there is any chance for flexibility
Zzzzzzz more like con news
Just the fact that some folk are already vaccinated is a big help and if they can get the Japan vaccines into people fast then having 1 million people vaccinated is a big help. Do you remember the terror in the US for medical professionals when this started? We basically don’t have to worry about that.
We are making more demand in the short term, but in all likelihood if Taiwan can make its own vaccine or get permission to produce someone else’s we’ll end up being a supplier for the world.
Personally I feel like there were a thousand ways our bubble could have burst, so I’m just grateful it lasted as long as it did.
4 Likes
It depends what your expectations are. If you just want to avoid a crisis like in the US or Europe, then we can definitely avert that. If you want to get out of level 3 this year, then the procurement strategy for vaccines has been a disaster.
1 Like
Already mentioned yesterday, but seems like it was brought up again today.
3 Likes
Self-paid option not coming back (no surprise there). So everything will follow the priority groups list and those that did get their self-paid vaccine earlier will still be able to get their 2nd shot regardless of this it seems based on the 2nd dose comments earlier. Curious if those that did self-paid will be free for the 2nd shot now.
EDIT: Some vaccines are being held in reserve to be used specifically for 2nd doses!
Moderna will start being rolled out this Wednesday.
5 Likes
Really good article in BNext that objectively breaks down why Taiwan has a vaccine shortage. 輝瑞、莫德納、AZ差在哪？BNT採購出什麼問題？罵政府前先搞懂國際疫苗怎麼買！｜數位時代 BusinessNext
- Taiwan first joined COVAX in October and booked 4.76 million shots
- They then purchased 10 million shots of AZ as looked the most successful at the time
- They expeted to purchase 5 million BNT in Jan, but deal fell through
- It was then announced that purchased 5 million Moderna in January
Conclusions from Writer
- Taiwan was not willing to take the risk in 2020 to invest in the big vaccines in the early stage of their development like US, UK, Israel and other countries did.
- So the plan was to first join COVAX, the buy AZ and review the situation with the MRNA vaccines later when the situation was clearer. They expected to be able to buy BNT in January and were waiting for results of testing to be clearer. The writer criticises them for always waiting
- When BNT deal fell through, they still had the option to purchase more Moderna or AZ but didnt. The writer questions the logic here
- At the time the signs for the domestic vaccines looked optimistic so they decided the best option was to wait till then, despite not having clear phase 2 test results.
- The writer says that there are a lot of mistakes in the procurement process that the government needs to reflect on.
6 Likes
Wasn’t the DPP promoting a Go South strategy in trade? 
Whole lotta red going on! With the exception of Uruguay and Chile
1 Like
‘Put on the Green jerseys’
They deserve to be harshly criticised for under ordering vaccines and entering negotiations far too late and Penny pinching when other countries were throwing money at the vendors.
The main issue is the bizarre signing of big contracts to local vendors who don’t even have a vaccine candidate approved yet. Believe me I know one of these companies (and they are all small companies and not international as such ) very well , it’s madness to depend on them for vaccine delivery in 2021 over multiple foreign vendors .
What kind of weird biz dealing was going on eh ?
Back up yes…have local capacity…yes…Depend on them for 2021…hell no.
Do they even have phase III trials running anywhere yet ?
A fuck up is a fuck up.
I’m familiar with this kind of ‘pull on the jerseys ra ra’ response when there’s a crisis . The same thing happened in many countries. It got Boris Johnston through to now so it seems to work for many.
3 Likes
See I dont care so much about the pilot stuff. I think breaches were always going to happen as Taiwan is a small island that relies on trade and the virus variants had become too virulent. Not being prepared is inexcusable and the vaccine policy in particular has been a shitshow.
5 Likes
Ah the standard retort of “this is not the time …”
No actually it very much is the time. Things are not gonna go away soon and investigation is to fix problems for the future.
2 Likes
Good. Maybe my local hospital will reply to me now.
Had Tory friends in the UK pull the same line, “YOU COULDNT HAVE DONE ANY BETTER”. Well its not my job.
1 Like
1 Like
It appears from the article below, that anyone that got a self funded vaccine and has waited between 10-12 weeks for the second shot can sign up for the second shot after June 15. The second shots will be free.
8 Likes
Cool. I was trying to book with Mackay today and getting annoyed because the person I spoke too, as soon as he realised my Chinese was minimal, decided the best course of action was to just hang up.
Does this mean shots will be given after June 15, or you need to book after June 15? My appointment is originally pencilled in for June 22.
Btw, does anyone have a specialised number to book second shots?
Going through the main desk is a ball ache to be honest …
2 Likes
I haven’t figured that out yet. I’d give it a few days for the dust to settle before trying to sort out the logistics. But if anyone else knows, I’d also really like to find out the answers to these questions!
I agree with lostinasia, I think it’s going to take a few days for a system to be put in place, but at least it is becoming clear that second shots will be available after June 15, even though the mechanism for getting them will likely be harder than it should be.
4 Likes
Vaccine line (in Japan)
Addded:
Sorry, this was off topic.
5 Likes
And that has been stated like seven times. Yet people do not believe it. I know it is hard to believe and goes against the narrative that the government is run by idjits who do not know what they are doing and that we do not have vaccines, but actually, them bureaucracy are actually good at math and can extrapolate how many vaccines are required for second dose out if current and incoming shipments.
Dunno about you but I was given a little booklet and it has the date of my appointment. If that appointment is rescheduled, it will be up to the hospital. They will let you know. My, they also have it online.
When they know, you’ll know.
Edit
4 Likes