Taiwan considers expanding Covid-19 vaccine programme after US ups donation to 2.5 million
- Washington had already pledged 750,000 doses, but has now dispatched a larger consignment to the island
- Health Minister Chen Shih-chung and President Tsai Ing-wen thank Washington for the donation
The island registered 107 new local infections on Sunday, 11 deaths, and two imported cases. This was one of the lowest number of new daily cases since the current outbreak started in May, according to statistics from Taiwan’s health ministry.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen expressed gratitude to the US after the shipment of 2.5 million doses was dispatched on Saturday. It was expected to arrive on Sunday evening.
“Thank you to the US for this moving gesture of friendship. These vaccines will go a long way towards keeping Taiwan safe and healthy,” Tsai wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
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US sends 2.5 million Covid-19 vaccines to Taiwan
The donation has brought relief, as only 6.4 per cent of the island’s 23 million people have been vaccinated so far, the equivalent of 1.5 million doses, according to Chen Shih-chung, the health and welfare minister.