Taiwan says it is developing its own coronavirus vaccine after being excluded from this year’s World Health Assembly by the World Health Organization.
“We feel disappointed and angry about [the World Health Organization’s] decision of not inviting Taiwan to join this year’s WHA," Yi-Chun Lo, deputy director general at Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, is quoted saying by CNBC. “We feel we have so much to share about our successful experiences in this COVID-19 outbreak response.”
Taiwan has reported 440 coronavirus cases and seven deaths so far. It has been praised for its virus containment measures. Still, it is rushing ahead with vaccine research.
“Our major concern is [that] because Taiwan is not included in WHO’s network, there might not be fair opportunity for Taiwan to get a share [from] the global vaccination program,” he said.
“So, we have to have our own manufacturers [work] very hard on producing vaccine for our domestic purpose.”
He added that Taiwan’s communication with the WHO is “minimal.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday blasted China and the WHO for excluding Taiwan from this week's health assembly.
Pompeo said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus "had the legal power and precedent to include Taiwan."
"Yet, he instead chose not to invite Taiwan under pressure from the People's Republic of China," Pompeo said.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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