Taipei, February 27 (CNA) Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) on Friday published its list of vaccination priorities COVID-19, as it prepares to start a national immunization campaign in March.
At a news conference on Saturday, CECC spokesman Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥) said the 10 categories on the list include about 15 million people (30 million doses) – a figure equal to about 64% Taiwan’s population of 23.56 million.
The categories, organized in order of eligibility, are as follows:
1. Medical and non-medical personnel in government designated hospitals, clinics and quarantine facilities.
2. Epidemic prevention workers in central and local government; frontline public health officials; airport personnel working in customs, immigration, quarantine and security; village chiefs and workers who deliver meals to people in the home quarantine; paramedics and firefighters; Coast guard and airborne rescue personnel.
3. People most at risk of exposure to COVID-19 due to their occupations: pilots, flight attendants and sailors on international commercial vessels; epidemic prevention taxi drivers; personal hotel quarantine; and workers at ports of entry not included in category 2.
4. Foreign diplomatic personnel and their families in Taiwan, according to the principle of reciprocity (that is, whether Taiwanese diplomats in those countries are also eligible to receive vaccines); athletes representing the country in international competitions.
5. Military and civilian police.
6. Residents and employees in long-term care facilities and workers in correctional facilities.
7. Members of the Armed Forces.
8. People aged 65 and over.
9. People aged between 19 and 64 years old who suffer from conditions that put them at greater risk of serious illness due to COVID-19; others are at risk because they suffer from rare or serious illness or injury.
10. People aged 50-64.
The CECC added that it is currently drawing up other plans regarding the supply of vaccines to business people and people traveling abroad to work, study or receive medical treatment.
According to the list, the CECC will consider the possibility of making self-paid COVID-19 vaccines available if there is extra stock one to two months after launch begins.