Taiwan launches Covid-19 vaccination programme
The Prime Minister and the Minister of Health were administered their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Taiwan on Monday launched its vaccine programme against Covid-19, and Premier Su Tseng-chang and Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung were among the first group of people to receive their first shot.
At the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei, Su and Chen were administered their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, a move which aimed to ease fears and encourage people to also get the jab.
Su, 73, told reporters that he did not feel any pain after receiving his first dose of the two-shot vaccine.
"My situation suggests that people should be relieved," Su said.
Chen, who also chairs Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre (CECC), told reporters after receiving his first shot that the decision to give shots to top political figures was made after the appearance of blood clot concerns over the AstraZeneca vaccine in other countries.
"We're glad to cooperate to help reassure people," Chen, 68, said.
The hospital said that the second shot will be given around May.
Doses distributed to hospitals
Taiwan received its first batch of Covid-19 vaccines, commercially supplied by AstraZeneca, early this month.
The 117,000 doses of the vaccine have been distributed to 57 hospitals nationwide for health care workers taking care of Covid-19 patients.
Taiwan aims to acquire 30 million doses from various vaccine providers.
As of Sunday, Taiwan, an island of 23.6 million people, has reported 1,006 Covid-19 cases, including 77 locally transmitted ones, with 10 virus-related deaths.