Coronavirus: Taiwan appeals to US for vaccines amid fears for elderly

Island reports 312 more local cases as total rises to 1,889 for the past 11 days
US health chief supports WHA observer status for Taiwan, a move Beijing rejects

Coronavirus pandemic

Lawrence Chungin TaipeiandCatherine Wong

Published: 2:24pm, 21 May 2021

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Taiwanese Health Minister Chen Shih-chung has appealed to the United States for swift access to coronavirus vaccines as the island battles a spike in infections that has spread to at least 10 cities and counties.

In a video meeting on Friday morning, Chen told US Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra that the island needed vaccines urgently.

“During the meeting, [I] asked for the US to strengthen health cooperation between the two sides as both sides had signed a memorandum of understanding last year for cooperation in this area,” he said in Taipei, as the island reported 312 new local cases.

“[I] also said that due to the widening outbreak, we urgently need a vaccine and hope the US can support us by supplying us.”

According to Chen, Becerra said the US would support giving allies access to the vaccine and he would report to US President Joe Biden on Taiwan’s needs.

Chen said Becerra also expressed US support for meaningful participation for Taiwan in the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organisation.

“Great meeting with Minister Chen from Taiwan to discuss the ongoing pandemic & global health issues. The U.S. supports Taiwan’s ability to access vaccines, its contributions to health security, & its return to observership at the #WHA #LetTaiwanHelp,” Becerra said on his Twitter account.

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But Beijing squarely rejected Taiwan’s bid to attend the WHA as an observer, saying the island was an inseparable part of China and mainland authorities had made arrangements for the health of the people in Taiwan since the pandemic started.

“Taiwan is trying to use the pandemic for political manoeuvres and interference in the WHA,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

Zhao said 80 WHO member countries had already sent letters to the global health body to oppose Taiwan’s participation in the assembly. It is the fifth time Taiwan has failed to get an invitation to take part in the gathering.

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The outbreak in Taiwan has prompted concern from the US which had praised the island as a model in keeping the pandemic at bay.

The island has some 720,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine obtained through WHO-backed Covax Facility, but it is well short of what it needs to immunise its 23.5 million people.

Taipei has signed contracts to buy 5.05 million doses of the US-made Moderna vaccine and 10 million doses of AstraZeneca, as well as 4.76 million doses of unspecified brands through Covax.

Last week, the island’s top envoy to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim, said she was in talks with the US to secure some of Biden’s planned release of 80 million Covid-19 vaccine doses.

Biden has promised to send 20 million doses of Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines to countries in need, in addition to 60 million doses made by AstraZeneca once the jab has US Food and Drug Administration approval.

On Friday, Taiwan reported another 312 new local cases, including 127 in Taipei and 144 in New Taipei City .

Other new cases were also reported in some cities and counties in northeastern, northern, central, and southern Taiwan, with the city of Taoyuan having the third-highest number at 13.

The new cases bring the number of locally transmitted infections to 1,889 for the past 11 days and to 1,980 since the pandemic began. There were also three imported cases on Friday, taking the combined total to 3,139, with 15 deaths.

The Central Epidemic Command Centre said one-third of the infected were aged 60-90 years old – an age group medical experts warned could more easily suffer complications. Two women – one 65 and the other 70 – and an 80-year-old man have died of complications of the disease in the past few days, according to the centre.

“Older people, and people with other diseases like asthma, diabetes, and heart problems appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus,” said Su Yi-feng, a chest specialist at Taipei City Hospital.

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Since the number of the local cases first broke the 100 mark on May 15, 727 of those infected were aged at least 60.

Su said that at least 20 per cent of the people in this age group would become serious cases, meaning some of them might need intensive care treatment.

“This will increase the hospital load as they need at least several weeks or even a longer period of treatment, thereby crowding out the intensive care unit beds for patients of other serious diseases,” he said.

The spike prompted health authorities to raise the alert level for the entire island on Wednesday to three in its four-tier system and to tighten social distancing measures.

Apart from those driving alone, everybody in cars must wear masks or face a maximum fine of NT$15,000 (US$530).

Additional reporting by Catherine Wong

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Taiwan appeals to U.S. for jabs as cases keep rising