People in Taiwan will again be able to reserve appointments to get a COVID-19 vaccine jab via the government’s 1922 platform from Saturday, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Tuesday.

The CECC plans to restart the 1922 platform at 10 a.m. Saturday, with people able to make reservations for the coming week to get a COVID-19 booster shot, CECC spokesperson Chuang Jen-hsiang (???) said at a press briefing.

The reservation cycle will be repeated weekly, Chuang said.

The 1922 vaccination reservation platform was first launched in July last year, allowing people in Taiwan to register their information and which brand of COVID-19 vaccine they wished to receive, and then book an appointment slot.

The platform was put on pause in late December due to a decline in reservations, though people have still been able to get vaccinated by using the CECC’s vaccine map, which displays information on where they can get a jab and then contacting local hospitals, clinics, and health centers offering vaccine shots.

However, after the CECC shortened the interval between the second and third doses of COVID-19 vaccines from five months to 12 weeks on Jan. 7, it became difficult to book a slot directly with a clinic or hospital, so the CECC has decided to reactivate the platform.

According to Chuang, the platform will be slightly modified when it resumes service. For instance, people will no longer receive text messages reminding them to book a vaccine slot, and for the time being reservations can only be booked for a third vaccine shot.

Whether or not the site will take appointments for first and second vaccine jabs in the future is still being discussed, Chuang said.

As of Tuesday, 80.38 percent of Taiwan’s 23.37 million population has received one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while 71.17 percent have gotten two doses. A total of 2.01 percent have received a third dose, in the form of a booster shot or an additional dose, CECC data shows.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel