Moderna's Next-generation Booster in High Demand 邊境解封 青壯族憂感染率增搶打次世代疫苗

Taiwan reopened its borders on Oct. 13, prompting a surge in demand for vaccines. Taichung City's Health Bureau says Moderna's next-generation booster is in high demand. Doctors say some vaccine recipients are people preparing to travel abroad and others are those who worry they're more likely to get infected now that Taiwan has reopened.

A long line has formed at the drop-in vaccination site. People have come here to get their second boosters. Taiwan reopened its borders on Oct. 13, and many were worried that their chances of getting infected with COVID-19 have become higher. That's why they decided to get Moderna's next-generation booster.

Resident: “This epidemic situation is like this, and then they decide to allow people in. I'm feeling afraid, and I thought I should go get a vaccine.”

Resident: “The government didn't expect this reaction from the public after reopening. There are definitely many people who are nervous. I bet you're nervous too.”

Staff at the vaccination site at Taichung's Wenxin Forest Park said numerous COVID-19 vaccines are available. The one with the highest demand is Moderna's next-generation booster. It is only allocated 100 doses a day and is administering them on a first come, first served basis. Meanwhile, doctors say the domestic epidemic situation has not abated and the infections caused by the BA.5 subvariant are surging. For many young people, more than half a year has passed since their first booster, which means that their antibody levels are no longer sufficient. They are more eager to get a second booster than people aged 65 and above.

Shih Sheng-huan, Pediatrician: “Right now those who want to get vaccinated are people who haven't been infected and people with insufficient antibody levels, as many people are getting infected now. You can also see from the daily caseload that the situation has not abated yet.”

Doctors predict demand for vaccines will increase by 20 to 30 percent following the reopening. Although other brands are available as second boosters, Moderna's next-generation booster is more effective against the current subvariants.

Hsu Chiung-wen, Disease Control Specialist, Health Bureau, Taichung City: “The city's vaccine reserve is 54,000 doses. The number of vaccines and the capacity are both sufficient.”

Taichung City's Health Bureau says it began accepting reservations for people aged 18 to 49 to get Moderna's next-generation booster on Oct. 11, and all slots have been booked. It is also accepting corporate or workplace group appointments. It expects to administer 48,000 Moderna next-generation boosters this week, and 30,000 will be available to be booked next week.

快打站一早就來了不少民眾排隊，準備接種第4劑疫苗，今（13）日國境解封，不少民眾擔心感染機率增加，就是要搶打次世代疫苗。

民眾說：「疫情這樣，好像又放人進來，然後我覺得會怕，想說有就趕快來打這樣。」也有民眾提到，「開放是政府它沒有考慮到百姓會怎樣，一定有很多人會緊張，我相信你也會緊張。」

台中文心公園快打站的工作人員表示，現場提供各種疫苗一起施打，但莫德納次世代疫苗打氣最熱，每天只提供100劑隨到隨打。醫師表示，國內疫情還尚未緩和，近期因BA.5疫情升溫，不少青壯族距離第3劑施打時間也超過半年，而抗體相對不足，打氣比65歲以上族群明顯提升。

小兒科診所醫師施勝桓指出：「現在目前（急需想打的），第一個，還沒確診的民眾；第二個，抗體量不足的紛紛在確診，而且看目前這個趨勢，（確診數）還是沒有辦法平緩下來。」

醫師表示，預估國境解封後，打氣比以往提升2至3成，雖然第4劑還是可以打其他疫苗，但次世代疫苗對於變異株有較好的效果。

台中市衛生局疾管科技正許瓊文表示：「現本市疫苗結存量為5.4萬，疫苗量及接種量能均非常充足。」

台中市衛生局表示，11日開始開放18至49歲民眾施打，預約平台已全數額滿，另外也開放企業或職場揪團預約，這個禮拜預計可完成接種4.8萬劑，下週將再開放3萬多劑預約。