During a legislative interpellation, Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung said the government has already drafted plans for digital vaccination certificates, and whether Taiwan chooses to recognize PRC vaccines will depend on breakthrough infection data.
Many countries have started issuing vaccination passports or certificates. Lawmakers questioned Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung on what Taiwan is doing on this front and whether the government will recognize the vaccination certificates of Taiwanese businesspersons in China that got two Chinese vaccines.
Lai Hui-yuan, Legislator (DPP)："Our digital vaccination certificates won't necessarily include Johnson, Sinopharm, or Sinovac?"
Chen Shih-chung, Health and Welfare Minister："Locally, we will consider vaccines that have been certified by the WHO or international community unless we are able to use scientific evidence to show that a vaccine's efficacy is inadequate. In that case, we would exclude it."
Complaints have been pouring in about the chaotic environment at Taipei's mass vaccination site, Expo Dome. Many seniors have been forced to wait in line in the rain for their vaccines. Chen says the central government has already helped local governments open five additional mass vaccination sites and will also provide manpower.
Chiang Wan-an, Legislator (KMT)："Do you have any understanding of whether we have enough medical workers to administer vaccines?"
Chen Shih-chung, Health and Welfare Minister："There are over 1,200 (medical workers) in Taipei that can serve as pinch hitters for frontline nurses on vaccination teams."
Chen also said although the epidemic is under control in Taiwan, that doesn't mean the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine for returning citizens can be lifted. In response to whether Taiwanese businesspersons in China can quarantine at home during the Lunar New Year holiday, Chen said the government may announce relevant changes within two weeks.
新冠肺炎肆虐全球近兩年，各國在接種新冠疫苗後，紛紛推出疫苗護照等證明，有立委關心，台灣的電子疫苗證明是否已完成規劃，另外部分台商在中國完整接種2劑中國疫苗，台灣是否會承認?
民進黨立委 賴惠員表示：「不一定嬌生，不一定中國國藥，還是科興，它會是在我們的電子疫苗的證明之內。」
衛福部長 陳時中表示：「WHO有認可，當然是有一個，國際認可的一個標誌在，所以這地方，我們一定要列入考慮。除非我們有能夠證據顯示，它的藥效，效果是不足的，當然我們會把它排除。」
此外，新冠疫苗全台如火如荼開打中，不過台北市花博公園、卻因為動線規劃紊亂，導致部分長輩在雨中排隊，引發不少民怨；對此陳時中回應表示，已協助地方政府、加開5個大型接種站，也會有「疫苗注射護理隊」提供支援。
國民黨立委 蔣萬安表示：「你有沒有了解？現在我們到底在施打疫苗的醫護人力上面，夠不夠？」
衛福部長 陳時中表示：「在台北應該有1200多位，可以來輔助，就已經退下來。第一線的護理人員可以形成注射隊。」
陳時中強調，雖然國內疫情相對穩定，但11月2號不會再降級，對於春節期間許多台商返台，防疫旅館需求大，是否開放居家檢疫?陳時中坦言，疫情變化大，若直接回家隔離、還是有點擔憂，不過會納入考量，預計兩週內會公布相關規劃。