Targets Set for Moderna's Second-generation Vaccine 莫德納次世代疫苗 脆弱族群2階段優先接種

Two million doses of Moderna's next generation COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive before October. which, according to the CECC, will be prioritized to be administered to vulnerable groups, including the elderly, frontline medical personnel and flight crews.

The Omicron subvariant BA.5 is wreaking havoc, but Taiwan is set to reopen its borders. The Ministry of Health and Welfare's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices convened on Sept. 5 and decided to prioritize the vaccination of vulnerable groups for Moderna's second-generation COVID-19 vaccine. It will be administered in two stages. In the first stage, the targets are people aged 65 and above, long-term care facility residents, and immunocompromised individuals aged 18 and above. In the second stage, the targets are frontline medical personnel, airport and port workers, quarantine facility employees, flight crews, sailors, care facility workers, people aged 50 to 64, and people aged 18 and above who need to travel abroad for work.

Lee Ping-ing, Convener, Advisory Comm. on Immunization Practices: “It's very easy for cluster infections to occur at long-term care facilities. Once one occurs and many people get infected, the mortality rate and the number of severe cases will be higher. That's why we have prioritized the vaccination of long-term care facility residents.

ACIP convener Lee Ping-ing said the vaccine in question is the "Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent (Original)" and targets the BA.1 subvariant. Based on the information the Food and Drug Administration referenced to grant the EUA, it can be used on people aged 18 and above as a first booster, second booster, or third booster. It cannot be used as a first dose or second dose, and must be administered at least three months after the last vaccination. 

Chuang Jen-hsiang, Spokesperson, Central Epidemic Command Center: “Right now, vaccine supplies are sufficient so everyone can get them. Other countries that are currently administering the second-generation vaccine have set a three-month interval. Those that have already received a fourth dose can get this second-generation vaccine if three months have passed since the last vaccination.”

The Central Epidemic Command Center says it expects to receive two million doses before the end of September. It is still discussing the details with the company and it's possible there may be an even higher number of doses. The first vaccination stage will take place after the vaccines arrive but the timing of the second stage is dependent on demand for the vaccine.

因應本土BA.5疫情升溫及邊境開放政策，衛福部傳染病防治諮詢會預防接種組（ACIP）專家會議5日決議，莫德納次世代疫苗將優先給脆弱族群接種，並分兩階段進行。第1階段接種對象為65歲以上長者、長照機構住民、18歲以上免疫不全及免疫低下者；第2階段則為第1類醫事人員、機場港埠、居家檢疫工作人員、航空機組員、船員、機構照服人員、50到64歲成人，以及18歲以上因外交、公務等工作需求出國者。

衛福部ACIP召集人李秉穎指出：「長照機構的群聚，那個是很容易發生的事情，它一旦發生的時候，很多個案得到感染，他的死亡率跟重症率又比較高，所以長照機構，也納入比較優先的對象。」

李秉穎表示，這款莫德納次世代疫苗是原始株+BA.1的雙價疫苗，依照食藥署通過緊急使用授權EUA資料，可提供18歲以上民眾作為第3劑、第4劑及第5劑追加劑使用，但不適用於第1、2劑基礎劑，而且與前一劑疫苗間隔時間至少3個月。

中央流行疫情指揮中心發言人莊人祥表示：「目前疫苗量夠，也讓大家都可以打，在參考其他國家目前次世代疫苗也都是在隔3個月左右，或是有人已經接種了第4劑，你還是可以再接種次世代，如果隔了3個月的話。」

指揮中心表示，最快9月底會有200萬劑莫德納次世代疫苗到貨，細節仍在跟廠商洽談中，也可能有更多劑量。第1階段可望於到貨後開打，第2階段啟動時間則需看民眾接種踴躍程度而定。