CORONAVIRUS/CDC confirms ample supply of COVID-19 drugs, vaccines

Taipei, June 1 (CNA) The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reiterated Sunday 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, along with 9,900 courses of the second-line alternative Molnupiravir and 5,000 courses of the Japan-developed Xocova, which became available in mid-May, the CDC said in a statement.

In addition to oral medications, Taiwan still has 204,000 doses of the injectable drug Remdesivir, according to the CDC, which released the COVID-19 medication inventory Thursday amid rumors of a shortage.

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 illness, the CDC said.

The CDC's statement Sunday pushed back against questions raised by Taipei City Councilor Hou Han-ting (侯漢廷), who questioned the adequacy of Taiwan's COVID-19 medication supply in a Facebook post the day before.

The New Party city councilor noted that the Ministry of Health and Welfare projected up to 1.81 million COVID-19 cases and questioned whether the 810,000 courses of medication would leave 1 million patients without access to treatment.

The CDC said the health ministry estimated up to 1.71 million hospital visits due to COVID-19 between late May and early June -- not the 1.81 million cases Hou cited in his post.

Only about 20 percent of people who test positive for COVID-19 are prescribed antiviral treatments to prevent severe illness or death, while others receive medication for mild symptoms, the CDC said.

The CDC also responded to an op-ed by Wang Jen-hsien (王任賢), president of the Taiwan Counter Contagious Diseases Society, published in Sunday's edition of the China Times, in which he argued that the government does not need to promote vaccination when only Moderna's mRNA-based vaccine is available.

The CDC denied the claim that it only offers Moderna vaccines, saying Taiwan has been procuring COVID-19 vaccines from both Moderna and Novavax since May 2023.

It is the government's responsibility to provide evidence-based expert recommendations so the public can make informed decisions about vaccination, the CDC said.

The vaccination is not mandatory, it added.