The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) has decided to shorten the interval between getting a second COVID-19 vaccine shot and a booster shot in Taiwan to 12 weeks, effective immediately.
Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung (???), who also heads the CECC, said Friday the decision to shorten the interval was made Thursday evening in consultation with members of Taiwan’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
The interval was previously set at five months, but a preliminary consensus was reached to shorten it to 12 weeks, beginning Jan. 7, to address the current outbreak of the Omicron strain of the COVID-19 virus, the CECC said in a statement Friday.
According to Chen, any individual who has received two shots of the Medigen, Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT) or Moderna vaccine can choose any of those vaccines or an AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine as a subsequent booster.
Only a half dose of the Moderna vaccine will be administered as a booster, however, in keeping with the company’s recommendation.
Chen also suggested that people who received two AZ jabs should choose a different brand as a booster for better protection.
In its statement, the CECC said Taiwan is well stocked with vaccines, and those eligible for boosters under the new regulation can schedule a booster through their local health department and get a time and location where they can get the shot.
Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel