Two former officials from Taiwan's largest opposition party say they are going to court to stop authorities administering the Medigen COVID-19 vaccine. The officials, former Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin and former Health Minister Yaung Chih-liang, say health authorities granted the vaccine authorization too early.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Hau and Yaung said they are taking their petition to the Taipei High Administrative Court.
Hau Lung-bin says that other countries require vaccines to go through three stages of testing before receiving Emergency Use Authorization. In addition, these other vaccines have tens of thousands of trial subjects. However, Medigen has not gone through the three levels of testing. Instead, Medigen used another method to get authorization.
Hau says this alternative method does not prove that Medigen is safe or effective. He says he understands the importance of vaccines in the fight against COVID-19. However, Hau says the vaccines should pass more stringent checks before receiving authorization. He says suspending Medigen will actually help the progress of better vaccines.
In addition, former Health Minister Yaung Chih-liang says that independent scholars and experts should meet to discuss Taiwan's vaccine strategy. That strategy could include measures to advance Taiwan's biotechnology industry to guarantee vaccine supply in the long term. Yaung also says former Vice President Chen Jian-ren should lead this seminar, and invite officials from the FDA and the Bureau of Pharmaceutical Affairs.