Registration for Fourteenth Round of Vaccinations Open 第14期疫苗今開放預約 首採「雙軌制」

The government is going all out to boost the full vaccination rate before the Lunar New Year, as the registration for the latest round of vaccination has opened both online and at hospitals and clinics for the very first time. The CECC is also considering shortening the hotel quarantine period for fully vaccinated overseas nationals returning Taiwan.

Registration for the 14th round of vaccinations opened at 10 a.m. on Nov. 11 with dual-track appointments available for the first time. This meant citizens were no longer at the mercy of the government platform and could directly make an appointment with a hospital or clinic. With the holidays approaching and quarantine hotel rooms booked solid, the Central Epidemic Command Center may allow fully vaccinated travelers to complete the back half of their 14-day quarantine at home. One doctor says the idea is feasible because people with breakthrough infections are generally less infectious.

Zen Lin, Pediatrician: “It's not as strict as 14+0 or 10+4, but Taiwan's two-dose coverage rate should be 60 to 70 percent by the new year. In other words, Taiwan will be safer then than it is now.”

The 7+7 option would only be available to people at least 14 days removed from their second dose. There are concerns about disease prevention breaches with the shorter mandatory hotel stay, but an expert says everything hinges on whether citizens can be trusted to follow the rules.

Huang Li-min, Honorary Chair, Infectious Diseases Society of Taiwan: “The key to going from 10+4 to 7+7 is the back four or seven days. Will travelers follow all the guidelines they are supposed to, and not go out or have contact with their family? If they stay at home alone like they are supposed to, then even 14 days of home quarantine would not cause any problem.”

CECC chief Chen Shih-chung says relevant details including vaccine brands will be announced in coming days.

早上10點，第14期公費疫苗開始預約，這次是國內首度執行中央平台和門診預約「雙軌制」，民眾如果沒有在公費疫苗平台預約成功，可以直接到合約醫療院所預約。

年節腳步接近，指揮中心研擬將春節檢疫方案有條件放寬為「7+7」，也就是接種兩劑入住防疫旅館七天後，後續七天改為加強版居家檢疫，有醫師認為方案可行，因為施打過兩劑的民眾，就算遭到突破性感染，傳染力也比較小。

小兒科醫師林應然認為:「雖然嚴謹度沒有像14+0或者是10+4，但是我們可以預期到我們過年的時候，台灣兩劑疫苗的覆蓋率應該會有到六七成，所以那時候台灣相對會比現在安全一點。」

「7+7」適用對象，預計規劃適用於完整施打過2劑新冠疫苗且滿14天的民眾，外界質疑是否可能產生防疫破口？有醫師指出，無論方案怎麼改，防疫最大的考驗，是民眾離開防疫旅館後，居家檢疫期間有沒有自律。

台灣感染症醫學會名譽理事長黃立民表示:「你要從10+4 變成7+7，最大的關鍵還是後面那4天或7天，這個人有沒有好好地遵守規定，不出去跟人家接觸。如果他好好待在家裡面，家裡面只有他一個不跟人家接觸，其實14天都在家裡都可以啦。」

7+7方案目前還沒有定案，預計適用廠牌的疫苗名單，將以WHO核發緊急使用清單為主，指揮官陳時中表示，預計近日將會拍板並且對外公布。