The CECC’s 20th round of vaccination opened on Monday nationwide. Taipei arranged for two new vaccine clinics to meet the soaring demand for boosters. During an inspection tour of a new clinic, Taipei’s deputy mayor warned that Moderna was overbooked in 20th vaccination round, which means about 20,000 people will miss out on a shot. But he said that Taipei will offer an extra vaccination session during Spring Festival.

Here at this vaccination station in the East Metro Mall, there’s a steady trickle of people coming to get boosters.

Member of public
You can’t get an appointment for Moderna anymore. Now that the epidemic is getting a bit serious, I thought I’d come to get Pfizer.

Member of public
You should protect yourself and protect others. So I thought it was important to come and get some added protection.

With local cases on the rise, there’s a renewed stampede for shots. This Taipei clinic was opened just in time for the 20th round of vaccination. Taipei Deputy Mayor Tsai Ping-kun made an inspection tour of the site on Monday.

The East Metro Mall clinic will inoculate about 1,000 people a day. It will administer Pfizer in all sessions except one on Monday afternoon, which provided Medigen. Every session in the round has been booked to capacity. During his inspection tour, the deputy mayor said that 157,000 people have appointments to get Moderna in this vaccination round. He warned that Taipei was still short by 1,000 vials, which means it won’t be able to honor the bookings of nearly 20,000 people.

Tsai Ping-kun
Deputy Taipei mayor
These figures have already been explained to the central government.

Although it’s short on Moderna, the city will have leftover Pfizer and Medigen after the 20th vaccination round. City officials are making plans to use up the stock over Spring Festival.

Tsai Ping-kun
Deputy Taipei mayor
After we took inventory of Pfizer and Medigen, we found that the supplies were sufficient. So now we are leaning toward holding clinics over Spring Festival. According to our surveys, there are about 50 or 60 contracted clinics that are willing to hold clinics for three days, from Feb. 4 to 6. That would be the fourth, fifth, and sixth days of the new lunar year. They are willing to open to serve the public.

In related news, the first batch out of 10,000 COVID treatment pills has arrived. This first delivery touched down in Taoyuan Monday morning.

Wrapped inside is the first batch of Merck’s oral COVID drug, which is to be administered within five days of symptom onset. It will be used on patients with severe risk factors. On Monday, the CECC said that the drug is not suitable for everyone due to its side effects.

Lee Ping-ing
CECC specialist advisory panel member
It has an effect on genetic material. In animal experiments, it was found to cause fetal harm. It is not suitable to administer Merck’s pill to breastfeeding women or pregnant women – in situations like that – or on young children.

Doctors said the pill poses risks for pregnant women, but that it still appears effective in reducing COVID hospitalizations for other groups. With omicron on the prowl, Merck’s pill opens up a new avenue for treatment.