Health minister Chen Shih-chung was the second in the country to get vaccinated this morning. At a press conference later in the day, he reported having a minor backache, but said the symptom was most likely all in his head. The health chief was asked if President Tsai Ing-wen should get vaccinated.
Chen Shih-chung, Health minister
Not being vaccinated is still the greater risk. There’s a greater risk of personal harm and harm to society. In my opinion, if we successfully develop a domestic vaccine, the president can take the lead in receiving it. That would have a great meaning, because a domestic vaccine would become an effective, long-term tool we can use against the epidemic. As for whether the president gets vaccinated, I think that will be determined by her medical team.
Xavier Chang, Presidential Office spokesman
The president also feels it’s a good idea and is willing to take real action to support domestic vaccines. Once a domestic vaccine is successfully developed, of course she’d be willing to take action to support it.
The spokesman said both the president and vice president would be willing to receive a made-in-Taiwan COVID vaccine, to demonstrate confidence in the formula. He said the decision on when to get vaccinated will be made by the president's medical team.
【中文翻譯】
國產疫苗若研發成功 陳時中建議總統帶頭接種
為了消除外界對疫苗疑慮，行政院長蘇貞昌及衛福部長陳時中，今天率先施打AZ疫苗。雖然下午召開記者會，陳時中提到背有點酸酸的，但強調是心理作用，要外界放心，繼續替AZ疫苗背書。至於總統是否優先施打國產疫苗？陳時中也給出建議。
[[衛福部長 陳時中]]
"沒有打(疫苗)其實他風險，還是比較高，對於人的傷害，或對社會的傷害都是比較大的。就我個人意見，我認為如果國產疫苗能夠成功，總統帶頭來施打，很有一個意義，因為國產疫苗，可能是長期、要來支持我們抗疫有效的工具。至於確定怎麼樣，可能要由他的醫療團隊去做評估。”
[[總統府發言人 張惇涵]]
“總統也覺得很好，也願意以實際行動，來支持國產疫苗，一旦國產疫苗研發成功，當然願意以實際行動來支持。”
對此，總統府發言人張惇涵回應，一旦國產疫苗研發成功，總統蔡英文及副總統賴清德當然願意以實際行動支持國產疫苗，讓國人及國際對Made In Taiwan的疫苗能安心、有信心。總統該打哪一款疫苗，一切尊重專家評估。
