“Considering that the cost of each dose will not exceed NT$200, we will be donating at least 750,000 to 800,000 doses,” he said.
Yeh also called on domestic pharmaceutical firms to join the government in donating swine flu vaccines to these countries for humanitarian reasons.
Meanwhile, regarding President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) departure for Central and South America tomorrow, Yeh said that as Belize, Guatemala and El Salvador are entering their summer months, the A(H1N1) epidemic should pose no problem for the president.
“What we are concerned about are the two US cities, as Ma will meet overseas Taiwanese there,” Yeh said.
Ma will stop over at Los Angeles on his way over and Seattle on his way back.
Ma may not be shaking hands with the overseas Taiwanese, and those coming to the banquet may have their temperatures taken first, Yeh said, adding that these precautionary measures would be implemented in a sensitive manner.
Yeh said he would accompany Ma on the trip, but would still be in charge of domestic A(H1N1) epidemic control while he is away. Yeh said that he would engage in medical diplomacy during the trip, and that while he would shoulder responsibility for the nation’s A(H1N1) epidemic control, he would let his deputies demonstrate their abilities.
“I will be going unless an uncontrollable community spread occurs in the nation; [otherwise] the Centers for Disease Control is doing a good job and we should let them take care of the situation,” Yeh said.
Yeh said that if absolutely necessary, he could rush back to the nation within 24 hours should anything urgent arise.
RSS