The Central Epidemic Command Center says a shipment of BNT vaccines distributed by Fosun Pharma bearing the Chinese name for "Comirnaty” may arrive in Taiwan at the end of the month. Meanwhile, four people have died after receiving Medigen vaccines. Doctors are calling on the government to promptly investigate the cause.
According to the Central Epidemic Command Center, a shipment of BNT vaccines distributed by Fosun Pharma bearing the Chinese name for "Comirnaty" that was originally headed elsewhere could arrive in Taiwan in the next few days. One domestic expert says the government was right to fight for the shipment, as long as it can be confirmed the vaccines originated from BNT itself.
Lee Ping-ing, Advisor, Central Epidemic Command Center
The label is a minor issue. What's important is the ingredients and whether (the vaccines) originated from BNT itself. Due to (BNT's) relationship with its distributor, another Chinese-language label was slapped (on the packaging). I don't think that matters.
The expert went on to say that research indicates that 12- to 18-year-olds can only get BNT or Moderna, and they should be vaccinated since they can easily become links in the transmission chain and end up infecting their families and communities. He also said there should be vaccination programs on campuses. In other news, four people have died in the first three days of Medigen vaccinations.
Lin Ing-jan, Chair, ROC Primary Care Association:” People want to draw a cause-and-effect conclusion, but we can't let this (misinterpretation) keep going. The average citizen lacks medical knowledge, so it's up to government agencies with credibility to investigate.”
One doctor says there have been 600-plus post-vaccine deaths in Taiwan so far when AZ and Moderna vaccinations started, and heart disease was ruled the cause of death in most of the cases. He says the government needs to establish the cause of death so citizens can have a better understanding of the vaccines before the next wave of infections hits in the fall and winter.
輝瑞BNT疫苗很可能八月底來台！疫情指揮中心證實，這批由中國上海復星代理的疫苗，原本要銷往其他國家，外盒包裝有中文「復必泰」標籤，但因為我們積極爭取、這批很可能提早一個月來台。對此國內專家認為，防疫就像作戰，且疫苗是重要的戰略物資，只要確認這批疫苗是原廠出貨，就應該積極爭取。
中央流行疫情指揮中心專家諮詢小組委員 李秉穎：「標籤的事情是枝微末節的事情，最重要的是裡面的成分就是原廠製造的，原廠製造以後因為它代理的關係，就貼上了一個期它的中文標籤，我覺得這是無所謂的。」
專家表示，目前研究顯示，12到18歲青少年能打的新冠疫苗，只有輝瑞BNT跟莫德納，青少年一旦染疫、很可能成為傳播鏈，造成家戶感染跟社區感染，所以有接種必要性，並且建議在校園造冊施打，可以提高接種率；至於國產高端疫苗開打三天，已通報4例接種後死亡個案，醫師擔憂民眾出現緩打潮。
中華民國基層醫療協會理事長 林應然：「時序上的關係，會被民眾當作因果性的關係，這個東西呢，不能一直再流傳下去。民眾畢竟他沒有那麼多的醫學知識，所以一定要由政府，有公信力的機關去把這個做釐清。」
醫師強調，過去AZ跟莫德納接種後，國內也發生600多例接種後通報的死亡個案，但解剖後發現，大多與心血管疾病有關，與疫苗沒有直接關聯性，建議政府應儘速完成死因鑑定，解除民眾對疫苗疑慮，否則秋冬若爆發另一波疫情，對國內防疫更不利。