Taiwan warns of further COVID-19 vaccine delays, reports stabilization in cases
Taiwan’s health minister warned on Tuesday of further delays to getting more COVID-19 vaccines but said the government was doing all it could to get them, as he reported a stabilization of new infections.
Taiwan has been struggling to speed up its vaccination program while it deals with a spike in domestic cases, with only about 3 percent of its 23.5 million people having received at least one shot.
For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.
The government had said it aimed to get 2 million more doses by the end of this month, apart from an almost similar number donated by Japan and the United States, but Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said there were problems getting the vaccines.
“In fact, purchases are not so stable, but we will continue working hard,” he told his daily news conference, pointing to production problems at factories.
“We hope that by the end of August, 10 million vaccines will reach Taiwan,” Chen added, reiterating a previous timetable.
Taiwan has 10 million doses on order from AstraZeneca Plc and more than 5 million from Moderna Inc, plus about another 5 million from the COVAX global sharing scheme.
Chen announced 219 new domestic COVID-19 cases, slightly up from the 211 reported on Monday, and said positive rates during tests were continuing to fall in the capital, Taipei, and its neighboring city where cases have been concentrated.
“This is quite a good phenomenon,” he said. “However there is no cause to relax.”
Taiwan has a long holiday this weekend for the traditional Dragon Boat festival, and the government has been urging people to stay put and return train or bus tickets they might have already bought.
“I continue to call on people to avoid moving around during the Dragon Boat festival,” Chen said.
Taiwan has reported a total of 11,694 case since the pandemic began, including 308 deaths, which, while far fewer than many other parts of the world, has shocked people in Taiwan which for months had no or very few community infections.
Read more:
Taiwan to extend COVID-19 curbs, schools to stay shut
Taiwan says in talks to produce COVID-19 vaccines for US firms
-
Taiwan to extend COVID-19 curbs, schools to stay shut
Taiwan will extend its COVID-19 restrictions for another two weeks until June 28 and schools will remain shut until the summer vacation, the ... Coronavirus -
U.S. boosts Taiwan’s COVID-19 fight with 750,000 vaccine doses
Reports -
US boosts Taiwan’s COVID-19 fight with 750,000 vaccine doses
The US will donate 750,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan as part of the country’s plan to share shots globally, US Senator Tammy Duckworth said on ... Coronavirus -
Taiwan says in talks to produce COVID-19 vaccines for US firms
Taiwan is in talks with US companies about making their COVID-19 vaccines, following similar talks with European firms, Health Minister Chen ... Coronavirus