This Week in Taiwan 0523-0529
May 25: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continued to spread in Taiwan. Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung, who heads the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), announced that the third-level epidemic alert will be extended to June 14. Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung announced that suspension of classes will extend until June 14.
May 26: The government has not done a satisfactory job procuring coronavirus vaccines. The Nantou County Government sent an official document to the CECC requesting that it permit the local government to purchase Pfizer vaccines distributed by Fosun Pharma, which is based in Shanghai, to administer to the public. County magistrates of Hsinchu, Changhua, and Yunlin also called upon the CECC to permit procurement by local governments. But President Tsai Ing-wen stressed that the procurement of vaccines must be coordinated by the central government, and it should be the central government which negotiates with the original manufacturer so as to avoid legal and political risks.
May 26: In a press conference, outgoing Director Brent Christensen of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) commented on whether Taiwan will be eligible to receive some vaccines when the United States releases 80 million coronavirus vaccines to aid foreign countries. Christensen stated that the number of confirmed cases in Taiwan remains low, and the standards of dispatching vaccines are still being discussed. Upon hearing his remarks, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je blasted Christensen, saying that Taiwan has consumed American pork containing ractopamine and purchased arms, but 11 deaths do not mean much to the United States. Ko put it more bluntly: The number of deaths will become more serious if Taiwan has to wait until August for domestically produced vaccines.
May 26: The CECC announced the strengthening of five major epidemic prevention measures. People who go out and fail to wear masks will be directly fined; and designated businesses like ballrooms, dance halls, restaurants, bars, cafes, and tea houses, are not permitted to operate and will incur heavy fines for any violation. Additionally, all food prepared by dining facilities are to be taken out. No wedding banquets and public funerals, and religious gatherings are allowed.
May 27: Former Vice President Annette Lu criticized that the CECC has failed to properly handle the pandemic. She demanded that Minister Chen Shih-chung be removed from the position of commander and Premier Su Tseng-chang assume that role. Lu also asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to request that the United States promptly allocate vaccines to Taiwan or else suspend the importation of American pork containing ractopamine.
May 28: Taiwan purchased 5.05 million doses of vaccines from American pharmaceutical company Moderna. The first batch of 150,000 doses of Moderna vaccine arrived in Taiwan by air from Europe on the evening of May 28. The Food and Drug Administration, MOHW, stated that cold chain inspections and sampling have been completed in the evening. The vaccines were taken overnight to laboratory testing; testing should be completed by June 11; and first-line personnel such as physicians and nurses have priority to inoculate. This batch of vaccines was commissioned by Moderna to be manufactured in Madrid, Spain, and will not expire until November.
May 29: The Buddha's Light International Association (BLIA) stated that it has officially applied on May 27 for approval to import between 200,000 and 500,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines, which the organization will donate to the CECC to inoculate medical, police, firefighter, and clergy personnel. Terry Gou, founder of Foxconn, also announced on Facebook that his YongLin Foundation will apply for approval 5 million BioNTech vaccines manufactured and packaged in Germany. If the government approves importation, the vaccines will be shipped directly to Taiwan by air.
The CECC originally stated on May 28 that as long as eight major documents are submitted and approved by the central government, such vaccines may be used for epidemic prevention. But on May 29, the CECC announced that the procurement of vaccines should not go through a third hand. It needs to be the central government which contracts with the original manufacturer and coordinates the distribution.
In an opinion submission to the media, Secretary-General Shih Chueh-pei of the BLIA asked the government to keep in mind the suffering of the common people. He said that saving time will save lives. If the government had the ability to sign a contract with the original manufacturer, why didn't it procure the vaccines in time?
May 29: The pandemic in Taiwan continued to develop. The relaxation of quarantine requirements for airline crew members to three days isolation plus 11 days of self-health management is considered by many to be a primary loophole in the epidemic prevention. Responding to interpellation at the Legislative Yuan, Minister Chen Shih-chung stated that the meeting and decision were presided by Deputy Minister of the Interior Chen Chun-yen, who serves as deputy commander of the CECC, and he was not aware. However, the media exposed that the deputy commander did not actually attend the April 13 meeting. Minister Chen admitted on May 29 that he had a wrong recollection. He presided over the meeting and will assume the responsibility.