The WHO’s addition of Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp’s (高端疫苗) COVID-19 vaccine to its pool marks the first time the world body has authorized a Taiwan-made vaccine and it is an endorsement of the country’s vaccine industry, Minister of Health and Welfare Hsueh Jui-yuan (薛瑞元) said yesterday.
Medigen on Tuesday announced an out-licensing agreement with the WHO’s COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) and the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool, which makes its vaccine technology available to people in need worldwide.
Pharmaceutical companies are required to provide toxicology results, animal and clinical trial statistics, as well as production data for the C-TAP initiative to review, Hsueh said, adding that the information requirements do not differ significantly from an application to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization.
Photo: CNA
C-TAP’s announcement was an affirmation of Taiwan’s vaccine manufacturing industry, he said.
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices head Lee Ping-ing (李秉穎) said that the WHO’s approval of Medigen’s vaccine speaks volumes, as the organization examined the vaccine with the help of experts, and deemed that the manufacturing process and technology are mature.
Medigen’s vaccine has had fewer adverse reactions than other messenger RNA (mRNA) or adenoviral vector vaccines, Lee said.
Many of the WHO-validated COVID-19 vaccines also used immune-bridging, but they were not required to pass phase three trials due to provisions allowed in emergency use.
An international body authorizing a vaccine developed using government funds is “a good thing,” Lee said.
Shih Shin-ru (施信如), a professor in Chang Gung University’s Research Center for Emerging Viral Infections, said that authorization of Medigen technology for WHO use would allow other countries and companies to develop non-mRNA-based vaccines to help protect people who previously had adverse reactions or cannot receive mRNA-based vaccines.
INSPIRING: Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, free and fair elections and open society, the vice president-elect said Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. “Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadership role, but Taiwan’s leadership is important to the world,” Hsiao told the annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation think tank. Hsiao thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their long-term support, citing the example of US President Joe Biden last month signing into law a bill to provide aid to Taiwan,
STATE OF THE NATION: The legislature should invite the president to deliver an address every year, the TPP said, adding that Lai should also have to answer legislators’ questions The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday proposed inviting president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to make a historic first state of the nation address at the legislature following his inauguration on May 20. Lai is expected to face many domestic and international challenges, and should clarify his intended policies with the public’s representatives, KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) said when making the proposal at a meeting of the legislature’s Procedure Committee. The committee voted to add the item to the agenda for Friday, along with another similar proposal put forward by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The invitation is in line with Article 15-2
Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denounced Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) for making false allegations about donations to Ukraine and disclosing confidential documents, with the ministry saying that it would take legal action. The ministry last year signed an agreement with the Czech Republic on a healthcare project to assist Ukraine, which is to be carried out by the Czech Health Technology Institute. Hsu accused the ministry of being indirectly involved in the party politics of the Czech Republic as institute chairman Petr Foit is a local medical supplier, and has close political
PLAN: Nations would receive US$5m a year if they could advance Taiwan’s international participation, diversify supply chains away from China or counter Beijing’s influence The US House of Representatives Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the US and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Friday introduced a bill that would approve US$120 million to be spent on supporting Taiwan’s international space and tackling coercion by China. The bipartisan legislation — the Taiwan Allies Fund Act — was proposed ahead of the inauguration of president-elect William Lai (賴清德) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on May 20. The committee said in a statement that the bill “strengthens Taiwan’s global network of friends by authorizing [US]$120 million over three years for the State Department and USAID [US Agency