Health Minister Chen Shih-chung says that the government has approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in 12-17 year-olds. The government's decision is based on new research from the United States indicating that the vaccine is safe for adolescents. Chen says plans to vaccinate this age group are still being worked out.
However, Chen says that since the Moderna vaccine supply is limited, he expects 12-17 year olds will primarily receive the BioNTech vaccine instead. Taiwan's government has already approved this vaccine for use in this age group, and the country has secured a deal for 15 million doses, though it is still unclear when they will arrive.
The Centers for Disease Control has also broadened the age restrictions for the domestically produced Medigen vaccine. Originally, only those over 36 could schedule an appointment to get the Medigen vaccine. However, the government has leftover Medigen jabs because not everyone who was eligible for a vaccination appointment scheduled one. The Centers for Disease Control has released the surplus quota to people over 20 years of age who signed up to get the Medigen vaccine.