2021.7.19 by Stefan Huang(NTUB A. Professor) and Liang-Shen Simon Wang(MLNGT Master Student)
Since 12th of May 2021, Taiwan has raised up to Covid-19 Level 3 alert which has been severely impacting people’s daily life and economic activities. Due to the concerns of sporadic cases and low on vaccine stock, the Taiwan government can only extend the same alert level with some relaxation.
Now things are turning better. Thanks to generous donations with millions of vaccine doses from Japan and the US and 10 millions contracted purchases made by two famous private enterprises, Taiwan now has enough vaccines to implement a nation-wide vaccination program. Taiwanese People and the government hope this vaccination program will end the Level 3 alert as soon as possible and bring the daily life and economic activities back to normal.
The government has introduced an online Covid-19 vaccination registration system, which goes nation-wide on 8th July. The registration system allows people to register the vaccines with their ID and National Health numbers. Taiwanese people may register in an order set by different age groups and are permitted to choose the available brands of vaccines which they prefer.
Within one week after the vaccine registration system went online, there were 6.6 million people have successfully registered, which counts c.a. 30% of Taiwan’s population. The government expects 25% of vaccination coverage by the end of this July.
Taiwanese people got vaccinated at one vaccination station.(Photo via CNA)
However, Taiwanese people have shown their vaccine preference on Moderna and less willingness of AstraZenec. This preference is caused by several news reports on side effects and deaths that might be related to AstraZenec a vaccination.
Taiwanese people can choose vaccine type via online registration system.(photo via AFP)
因變種病毒肆虐緣故，台灣自5月12日以來維持三級警戒，對日常生活與經濟活動造成嚴重衝擊，因欠缺足夠疫苗與零星感染案例緣故，遲遲無法解封。不過，台灣近期接受來自日本、美國的慷慨疫苗捐贈，以及知名企業購得1000萬劑輝瑞疫苗，台灣的新冠肺炎疫苗荒暫告緩解。
台灣政府正式推動全民施打疫苗，推升疫苗接種率的計畫，希望可以儘早終結三級的疫情管制，讓日常經濟回歸正常。
台灣政府7月8日推出公費疫苗線上預約平台，讓登記者可以依照年紀順序，登記自己希望施打的疫苗種類。
自推出以來，截至7月14日已有6.6百萬人(約當台灣三成人口)已經完成線上預約程序。預計將於7月底達成25%的疫苗覆蓋率。
不過，台灣民眾對施打疫苗的意願有明顯偏好莫德納，較少人願意接受AZ疫苗，可能是受到部分疫苗副作用的負面報導所影響。
(本文由台北商業大學黃士洲副教授及貿易實務法律暨談判碩士學位學程王良申碩士生一同寫作)
