The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yesterday approved the release of 164,700 doses of Novavax vaccines for the XBB.1.5 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which are expected to be ready for distribution by Tuesday.
A total of 330,000 doses arrived in Taiwan at the end of last year, but only 132,200 doses were approved for release amid concern over proper storage temperature during delivery, prompting a request for Novavax to provide documentation that the vaccines are still valid.
The FDA also confirmed that another 165,000 doses are to arrive by the end of the month, as more people test positive for the XBB.1.5 subvariant across Taiwan and in the region.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
Local vaccinations rose 33 percent from Monday to Thursday compared with last week, the FDA said.
To date, the government has administered Moderna’s XBB vaccine to 1.13 million people and Novavax’s XBB vaccine to 660,000 people.
With a cold wave forecast to arrive tomorrow, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reminded people to dress accordingly when attending year-end banquets and other events.
The CDC recommended that those eligible for vaccination to get their shots as soon as possible to maximize protection.
People aged 12 or older can choose either the Moderna or Novavax vaccine, while children aged six months to 11 years old who are eligible for vaccination should only receive the Moderna vaccine.
The CDC said the public can consult the Fall-Winter vaccines page on its Web site for more information on hospitals and clinics offering such services.
CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said that the government had 4.3 million Moderna XBB variant vaccines in storage and 60,000 Novavax vaccines.
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