The first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines earmarked for immunizing children arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday morning. This small delivery of 2,000 doses will be used primarily for testing and safety inspections.
On Monday, Taiwan began vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 with half doses of either Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 shots. But, the Pfizer brand has been in short supply around Taiwan in recent weeks. Many parents seem reluctant to vaccinate their children with the Moderna vaccine due to possible side-effects.
Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center also says that the seventh batch of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, containing over a million doses, will arrive in Taiwan later in the day on Wednesday. After clearing customs it will be taken to cold storage, inspected, and sealed for later use. The expiration date for this batch is August 20 of this year.
Taiwan signed a deal with the US company Moderna last year for the delivery of 35 million COVID-19 vaccine doses. Twenty million of those are expected to arrive this year.