Health Minister Chen discusses Taiwan’s vaccine needs with US Secretary of Health in a video conference

According to TAIPEI TIMES, Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said that he had asked his US counterpart for assistance obtaining COVID-19 vaccines.

Chen’s video conference with US Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra lasted about 30 minutes on May 21 morning, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said in a news release.

Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung (陳時中) said that he told Becerra about Taiwan’s urgent need to acquire more vaccine doses amid a COVID-19 outbreak since last week.

Chen, who heads the CECC, expressed his hope that the US would support Taiwan as it is to share vaccine doses with the rest of the world.

Health Minister Chen discusses Taiwan’s vaccine needs with US Secretary of Health   in a video conference. Image courtesy of Twitter.  

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TAIPEI TIMES mentions, in response to media queries on whether Becerra promised that the US would supply doses to Taiwan, Chen said that Becerra reiterated Washington’s support for its allies.

Becerra said he would report on the meeting to US President Joe Biden and the US would consider Taiwan’s need when distributing the vaccines, Chen said.

Taiwan’s battle against COVID-19 has been complicated by a limited supply of vaccines.

Health Minister Chen discusses Taiwan’s vaccine needs with US Secretary of Health   in a video conference. Image courtesy of Rti.  

TAIPEI TIMES says, as of on May 21, about 700,000 doses had arrived, including 410,000 of AstraZeneca PlC’s COVID-19 vaccine earlier this week.

The ministry last month said it expected deliveries of 5.05 million doses of the Moderna Inc COVID-19 vaccine this month (May).

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