Taiwan to budget NT$18.7b for COVID-19 vaccine

Taipei, July 22 (CNA) The Taiwan government will allocate NT$18.7 billion (US$635.6 million) for the development or procurement of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Wednesday. Of that amount, NT$13.5 billion will be be spent on research and development in Taiwan or procurement of a vaccine from an overseas source, while NT$5.2 billion will be held as reserve fund, said Health Minister Chen Shih-chung (éâ„¢³à¦â„¢"šà¤¸­), who heads the CECC. He said the government will provide information Thursday how vaccine makers can apply for the funding. In terms of the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, three Taiwanese…