Foxconn founder Terry Gou recently appealed to the government, hoping to increase the purchase of BNT's next-generation vaccines. China's Fosun Pharma, the BNT distributor in Greater China, also announced on the 21st that the next-generation vaccines can be used in future contracts. Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan said that businessmen are very flexible in changing, unlike national policies, which are difficult to turn.
Terry Gou, the founder of Foxconn, recently got in a tussle with the government because of the next-generation BNT vaccine procurement project. Fosun Pharma, the BNT distributor in Greater China, also urgently issued a statement on the 21st saying that future contracts can be replaced by next-generation vaccines.
Hsueh Jui-yuan, Minister of Health and Welfare: “There are many twists and turns in a company's business strategy. This is not like a country's national policy, which is more difficult to turn. A businessman making such a change is very flexible.”
Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan was unwilling to directly respond about procuring the next-generation BNT vaccine. The public is concerned about whether there will be safety concerns for those who originally received BNT to mix vaccines with Moderna and other next-generation vaccines.
Huang Yu-cheng, Pediatric Infection Physician, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital: “There is no problem with mixing booster shots and prior vaccine shots with different brands.”
Lee Ping-ing, Convener, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, MOHW: “Of course, we should buy more if we can. There are now two next-generation vaccines. Their effects and side effects are similar. If the two vaccines are equally effective, we don't need to choose which vaccine must be used in Taiwan.”
Experts suggest that the government buy as many vaccines as possible. However, Gou posted an angry criticism on Facebook on the 21st, stating that "animals eat money," which was interpreted as pointing the finger at the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
Hsueh Jui-yuan, Minister of Health and Welfare: “I didn't check Facebook. A person can think for himself or herself. Everyone's feelings are different.”
The next-generation BNT vaccine controversy not only affects funding and other issues, but also involves the possibility of Terry Kou and Ko Wen-je's presidential bid in 2024.
鴻海集團創辦人，近期因為BNT次世代疫苗採購案，槓上政府，而BNT大中華代理商復興醫藥，昨（21）晚也急發聲明表示，未來合約可換成次世代疫苗。
衛福部長薛瑞元表示：「商業上面的策略的話，本來就是會很多轉折的，這不是像說國家政策，要轉彎就比較困難一點，那這個生意人他做這樣的轉變，這個是會非常有彈性的。」
對於BNT次世代疫苗採購案，衛福部長薛瑞元給軟釘子，不願正面回應是否要加碼採購。外界關注，針對基礎劑打BNT的族群，如果混打現行國內的莫德納等次世代疫苗，會不會有安全疑慮。
林口長庚醫院兒童感染科醫師黃玉成說明：「如果你的混打是指打過基礎劑之後，在後面追加的，那是沒有問題的。」
衛福部傳染病防治諮詢會預防接種組召集人李秉穎回應：「我們如果可以的話，當然是建議多買，新冠疫苗現在有兩種次世代疫苗，它的效果跟副作用也差不多，所以大概兩個疫苗的效果相當的話，我們就不會說一定非要哪一種疫苗，一定要進來台灣不可。」
專家建議政府，疫苗能多買就多買，不過，郭台銘為了BNT採購案，21日一度在FB發文怒批「禽獸食祿」，被解讀劍指衛福部。
衛福部長薛瑞元說：「我也沒有對號入座，這個個人自己會去思考，每個人的感受會不一樣。」
BNT次世代疫苗爭議，不只牽動經費等問題，還扯入2024總統大選，話題持續延燒。
