Taiwan donates 150,000 COVID vaccine doses to Somaliland

(photo: MOFA)

Taiwan donated 150,000 doses of the domestically-produced Medigen COVID-19 vaccine to Somaliland. The doses were handed over to Somaliland’s Health Minister Hassan Mohamed Ali Gafadhi on Saturday, according to Taiwan’s foreign ministry.

The vaccine donation follows Taiwan’s earlier efforts to aid the self-governing African state in its fight against COVID-19. Last year, Taiwan donated medical supplies and equipment to Somaliland.

The donation was made possible by Somaliland granting the Taiwan-made Medigen vaccine the emergency use authorization (EUA) in December. Somaliland is currently the only country allowing the use of that brand of COVID-19 vaccine, although there are ongoing trials in Paraguay. Medigen’s vaccine is also a part of the international clinical trial platform, Solidarity Trial Vaccines, co-launched by the World Health Organization.

Just over 3 percent of Taiwan’s population have been vaccinated with Medigen’s vaccine, although that number includes President Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President Lai Ching-te, both of whom have received three doses.

Source: Radio Taiwan International

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