Lawmakers yesterday accused Department of Health (DOH) Minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良) of refusing to admit to risks associated with the A(H1N1) vaccine and urged the DOH to increase compensation for anyone who experiences adverse effects.
The legislature’s Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee got off to a raucous start yesterday, with several lawmakers, including Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Ying (陳瑩) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lo Shu-lei (羅淑蕾), engaging in a heated argument.
Chen had invited two doctors to speak to the committee about the vaccine. KMT lawmakers protested the move, saying it violated legislative procedure.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Hours later, when committee members finally managed to bring the discussion back to safety concerns about the vaccine, lawmakers called on Yaung to acknowledge its risks.
On Dec. 12, the government launched a program that aims to vaccinate the entire population against H1N1. Both domestic and foreign vaccines are being used. But some people reported feeling some discomfort after receiving the shot, causing public concern.
Last week, a seven-year-old boy in central Taiwan died several weeks after receiving the vaccine. The father of the boy, a physician, blamed the shot, but health authorities and other medical experts dismissed his claim after looking into the case.
The minister expressed concern that the public might be scared out of receiving vaccines, putting Taiwan at risk of an H1N1 epidemic.
The DOH said it would step up efforts to assure the public of the safety of the shots and would consider offering higher compensation to those who experience adverse health effects.
Some lawmakers said compensation for any death resulting from the vaccine should be increased from the NT$2 million (US$60,000) to NT$10 million or more. Yaung said he would assess the proposal.
Meanwhile, on reports that military personnel had been given doses of expired seasonal flu vaccine, Yaung said the DOH was concerned and that the Ministry of National Defense Medical Affairs Bureau would address the matter.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director-General Steve Kuo (郭旭崧) said receiving a dose of expired flu vaccine did not pose a health risk, but was “an administrative error” that must be probed.
Meanwhile, an H1N1 self-help association formed by the private sector was launched yesterday, with Chen named as convener.
Chen said members of the public could call 04-24724421 to report any adverse effects after receiving the H1N1 vaccine.
Chen said the CDC had set up a 1922 consultation hotline for the same purpose, but if the public does not want to call that number, it can call the association instead.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA
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