The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reiterated that Taiwan has sufficient antiviral medication for COVID-19 patients and emphasized the importance of vaccination, amid concerns raised by public figures.
Taiwan has 458,000 courses of Paxlovid, the first-line treatment for eligible COVID-19 patients, 9,900 courses of the second-line alternative molnupiravir and 5,000 courses of the Japan-developed Xocova, which became available last month, the CDC said in a statement.
Taiwan also has 204,000 doses of remdesivir, according to the CDC, which discussed COVID-19 medication inventory on Thursday amid rumors of a shortage.
Photo: CNA
The medications are more than sufficient to meet projected treatment needs during the current surge in COVID-19 cases, as they are prescribed only for patients at higher risk of developing severe illnesses, it said.
The CDC’s statement pushed back against remarks made by Taipei City Councilor Hou Han-ting (侯漢廷), who in a Facebook post the day before questioned the adequacy of the nation’s COVID-19 medication supply.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare projected up to 1.81 million COVID-19 cases and Hou said he wondered whether the 810,000 courses of medication would leave 1 million patients without access to treatment.
The CDC said the ministry estimated up to 1.71 million hospital visits due to COVID-19 between late last month and early this month, not 1.81 million cases.
Only about 20 percent of people who test positive for COVID-19 are prescribed antiviral treatments to prevent severe illness or death, it said, adding that other people receive medication for mild symptoms instead.
The CDC also responded to an op-ed by Taiwan Counter Contagious Diseases Society President Wang Jen-hsien (王任賢), which was published in yesterday’s China Times, where he said the government does not need to promote vaccination when only Moderna’s mRNA-based vaccine is available.
Taiwan has been procuring COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Novavax since May 2023, the CDC said, denying claims that it only offers Moderna vaccines.
It is the government’s responsibility to provide evidence-based expert recommendations so the public can make informed decisions about vaccination, it said.
Vaccination is not mandatory, it added.
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