Starting May 16, four million people islandwide became eligible for a fourth vaccine or second booster shot as long as it has been five months since their third shot. Eligible groups include seniors over 65.
“OK, take a deep breath.”
Many seniors headed to vaccination stations to get their second booster on the 16th.
Senior Getting Fourth Vaccine Dose: “The government has shown goodwill by buying (vaccines) for us. Why wouldn't we take not get vaccinated?”
People over 65, long-term care facility residents, and immunocompromised people over 18 are all eligible for a fourth dose as long as they are in stable condition and at least five months removed from their third dose.
Mr. Wan, Taipei Resident: “They said you have to wait five months between your third and fourth shots. I didn't know that.”
One doctor says there are only around four million people islandwide that are currently eligible for a second booster, with many more that got their booster in early January becoming eligible in June.
Tseng Che-huang, Vice Superintendent, Gee-Tien Ear Nose and Throat Hospital: “The fourth shot will of course improve your immunity. It may also prevent severe symptoms or even suppress them.”
The CECC says people can choose which vaccine they want for their fourth dose regardless of what their previous three were. Experts say fourth doses are only being administered to high-risk groups in other countries and fourth doses for the general population are not recommended at this time.
「來，吸氣喔!」
挽起袖子打疫苗，增強身體保護力。新冠疫苗第2次追加劑、俗稱第4劑，16日週一開打，有長輩有一早就跑來接種站打疫苗。
台北打第4劑疫苗長者說：「政府有這個善意，買了（疫苗）要給我們打，我們為什麼不打？」
為了降低高風險族群、染疫後中重症風險，疫情指揮中心宣布，65歲以上長者、長照機構住民及18歲以上免疫低下等3類對象，只要病況穩定就可以接種第4劑疫苗，不過必須和第3劑疫苗間隔5個月，有長輩因為時間還沒到，想打疫苗卻撲空。
台北民眾萬先生說：「第4劑說要滿5個月以後才可以打，這個我就不知道了。」
高雄診所醫師表示，全台符合接種第4劑資格者大約400萬人，多數長者是今年1月初打第3劑疫苗，要到6月才比較多人符合接種條件。
吉田耳鼻喉科診所副院長曾哲凰指出：「第4劑加強劑當然會增進我們對這個病毒的免疫力，讓我們得到這個病的時候可能可以儘量可以輕症，甚至可以把它抵抗掉。」
指揮中心強調，不論先前接種什麼廠牌疫苗，第4劑都開放混打，目前國際上第4劑疫苗都是針對高風險族群，國內專家建議也是一樣，尚未開放一般民眾施打。