Free PCR Tests for Medigen Vaccine Recipients Traveling to Japan 高端赴日族免費PCR首日 北醫未見人潮

The effectiveness of the Medigen vaccine has become the center of attention after border controls were lifted. While the company is providing free PCR tests for those who received its COVID-19 vaccine and have plans of going to Japan, it has extended the deadline of submitting an effectiveness report until after the local elections. 

Domestic Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corporation is providing free PCR tests at 26 designated medical institutions to people who received its COVID-19 vaccine and have a schedule to travel to Japan. There were not many takers on the first day of the program. The public has a polarized view of Medigen's program.

Citizen: “If they didn't help me pay for the PCR test, I'll pay for it myself. And now, if they pay it for me, I think it's a good deal.”

Citizen: “It's their responsibility. They didn't get it right. Didn't people just get their vaccine in vain?”

Medigen reminds the public that it will only pay for the routine PCR screening, so those who need an urgent test must pay the difference. Taipei Medical University Hospital, one of Medigen's designated medical institutions, pointed out that about 95 individuals who had plans to travel to Japan have made a PCR screening appointment in the last two days.

Hsiao Shu-tai, Administrative Deputy Superintendent, Taipei Medical University Hospital: “About 48 people a day have made an appointment. We have the capacity to serve all these patients. The amount of PCR screenings we have should be adequate.”

At present, Medigen vaccine recipients account for the largest number of PCR screening tests. However, some Medigen patients tested positive with their PCR screening and their trip became impossible.

Mr. Chiang, Medigen Recipient: “Today is the third day of my illness. I don't feel any discomfort. The PCR result came out positive. I'm very astonished.”

Medigen was originally scheduled to submit a supplementary effectiveness report at the end of this month. However, Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan said recently that the results will not be announced until the end of November. KMT legislator Lin I-hua questioned whether the government is acquiescing when the company keeps extending the deadline as the results could affect the election outcome. Will Medigen's EUA be revoked? The results will be released before the end of the year.

 

高端公司免費提供高端族，赴日可到指定26家醫療院所做PCR檢測。開放第1天上午，沒出現預期爆炸人潮。對於高端公司做法，民眾看法兩極。

有民眾認為：「如果他沒幫我付這筆（PCR）錢的話，我就會自己去付這筆錢。現在他有幫我付的話，我覺得就有賺到。」

但也有民眾批評：「因為他們的責任，他（高端）沒有弄好，老百姓去打不是白打了嗎？」

高端公司提醒民眾，PCR檢測常規費用會由高端公司負擔，不過如果像是急件檢測差額，就得由民眾自行吸收。像是這次有配合高端公司，提供赴日民眾做PCR的北醫指出，統計前兩天，約有95位赴日高端族，預約做PCR篩檢。

北醫行政副院長蕭淑代表示：「一天大概預約個48左右，所以這樣的量能，在我們目前其實一直存在PCR的篩檢量來說，應該是足以因應的。」

目前高端赴日族占PCR篩檢的最大宗。不過，也有網友等不及高端公司提供免費PCR篩檢，自行到醫院做PCR篩檢，結果卻意外檢測出陽性，出國行程全泡湯。

高端族江先生說：「今天是我生病的第3天，我到現在也沒有任何不舒服的感覺，結果PCR出來的結果是陽性，我非常地錯愕。」

高端疫苗除了爆出赴日卡關爭議，原訂這個月底要提交保護力報告補件，但衛福部長薛瑞元日前卻表示，11月底才會公布結果，引起藍營立委林奕華質疑，高端補件補到遙遙無期，認為政府護航高端，就怕影響選情。至於高端EUA會不會被撤銷？年底前結果就會出爐。