Turning now to Taipei Main Station, where walk-in COVID vaccinations are underway. The pop-up vaccine clinic is now in its fourth day, and the crowds are showing no signs of letting up. To meet the demand, the CECC has decided to keep the clinic open an extra three days, until Dec. 12. In related news, the CECC is expanding its "vaccination-or-testing" policy, which previously applied only to personnel at 24 types of venues, including daycares and universities. It''s now asking four priority groups to get vaccinated by next Friday, or be subject to COVID testing every week.

Completed forms are checked over by staff. There’s a long line for COVID shots at Taipei Main Station, and even getting through ID screening requires a wait. It’s already the fourth day of vaccinations here, and the station is now administering vaccines at three locations. Even so, the lobby is still packed with people.

Member of public
I had some spare time, so I was able to come out here. I can’t book appointments that are in the evening or in the morning. I also can’t read the Chinese on the booking system.

Member of public
My blood pressure has been more stable these past two days, so I thought I should hurry up and get a shot. I came here before 1. The end of the queue was all the way over there.

At Taipei Main Station, Moderna is available to everyone without an appointment.

To meet strong demand, the CECC deployed more medical staff to the station. It’s also extended the vaccination period for three days to Dec. 12. Everyone in Taiwan is eligible for a shot, regardless of nationality. After the jab, they’ll receive a NT$100 supermarket voucher. In its first three days, more than 5,600 people were inoculated. So far, there’s been a surge of demand at Taipei Main Station and clinics at supermarkets and department stores. Together, they’ve administered all 34,000 Moderna doses that were going to expire on Dec. 7.

Chuang Jen-hsiang
CECC spokesman
There are fewer than 40,000 doses that will expire on Dec. 12. We will administer the Moderna vaccine until Dec. 21. We will provide promotional materials – that is, a gift, to encourage people to get vaccinated.

Also on Wednesday, the CECC expanded its vaccination-or-testing policy to more groups of people. The policy now also applies to the first three priority groups and Priority Group 7. These are health care workers, epidemic prevention personnel in the government, front-line workers, and essential workers. In addition, employees of correctional facilities and funeral parlors will also be required to get their second dose by Dec. 17, or undergo weekly COVID testing.

Chuang Jen-hsiang
CECC spokesman
These are actually people who were previously prioritized for vaccination. Our hope is to encourage them to get fully vaccinated as soon as possible.

In the first and second priority groups, 94% of people are fully vaccinated. In the third and seventh priority groups, only 88% are fully vaccinated. In related news, the CECC announced that second doses will be administered to students aged 12 to 17, starting Dec. 15.