🦠 BNT Vaccine Procurement Controversy Timeline (2021-2023)
Section 1: Epidemic Outbreak and Blocked Private Donations (2021/05/22 - 05/26)
[2021-05-22] Taiwan’s epidemic surges with rising confirmed cases and deaths, yet almost no one had received vaccinations. Terry Gou seeks to import BNT vaccines as donation to Taiwan.
- DPP Legislator Wang Ding-yu: The 7.5 million BNT doses in Hong Kong are actually the version manufactured by Shanghai Fosun and BNT collaborating with mainland China.
[2021-05-23]
- Minister of Health Chen Shi-chung states: No one has applied.
[2021-05-25]
- Executive Director of Executive Yuan’s Central District Office Tsai Pei-hui: Pfizer BNT is actually manufactured and packaged by mainland China.
[2021-05-26]
- President Tsai Ing-wen orders:
- Centralized purchase by the central government mandatory.
- Must coordinate with central government distribution.
- Must purchase from original manufacturers directly.
- Central government has already ordered 30 million doses. (Including Medigen and UBI 10 million each)
- Taipei City Councilor Lin Ying-meng: Claims Shanghai Comirnaty is Pfizer, not stupid, then bad.
- Minister of Health Chen Shi-chung:
- If mainland China is using it, we don’t dare use it; only what mainland China abandons interests us.
- Comirnaty is repackaged in Shenzhen.
- DPP camp begins spreading the narrative “Shanghai Fosun Comirnaty is a failed BNT human trial product.”
Section 2: Information Warfare and EUA Withdrawal Suspicion (2021/05/28 - 05/31)
[2021-05-28]
(Early morning) German BNT Replies to Taiwan Media: China’s Fosun obtained 100 million doses of direct German shipment BNT, all original manufacturer packaging and shipments.
(Morning)
- Minister of Health Chen Shi-chung: In fact, Comirnaty is BNT manufactured and packaged by mainland China.
- Legislator Kao Hung-an: Does the minister spreading rumors get fined?
- Minister of Health Chen Shi-chung: I’m unclear on this information.
- Minister of Health Chen Shi-chung: Both AZ and BNT have received EUA and can be imported.
(Afternoon)
- Minister of Health Chen Shi-chung: Private sector can donate by preparing eight required documents and applying through process.
(No legal regulation actually requires eight documents)
(Evening)
- Minister of Health Chen Shi-chung (responding to AZ nobody wants): We welcome it this period, after this time, we also don’t want it.
- Medigen stock price breaks NT$389, hitting all-time high with no earnings. (Currently NT$63)
[2021-05-29]
- Terry Gou: Pushing to complete submissions within 72 hours.
- Netizens discover their own vaccination notice showing Department of Health approved BNT EUA three months earlier, this document also exists on the Department of Health website.
[2021-05-30]
(Early morning)
- Department of Health frantically removes BNT-containing EUA documents from official website.
(Afternoon)
- Minister of Health Chen Shi-chung: Previously WHO COVAX wanted to give us BNT, so we had EUA. Later they didn’t, so we don’t.
[2021-05-31]
- Presidential Office:
- No longer mentions “central direct purchase from manufacturers” and “centralized by central government” principles.
- President instructs full assistance, absolutely no obstruction.