On October 27, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) at the Ministry of Health and Welfare discussed two kinds of Moderna bivalent vaccines (one targeting the original strain and Omicron BA.1, one targeting the original strain and Omicron BA.4/BA.5) and COVID-19 booster shots for children aged 5-11 in its meeting held this afternoon.
The ACIP made the recommendations below after the meeting.
A. Effective November 1, the Moderna bivalent vaccine (original and Omicron BA.1) can be offered to adolescents aged 12-17 as booster shots (including those who have not received a booster dose or who have received a booster dose of a monovalent vaccine).

B. The Moderna bivalent vaccine (original and Omicron BA.4/BA.5) was approved and authorized for use on people aged 12 and older by Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) on October 26. This vaccine will be offered to individuals aged 12 and older as booster shots depending on the vaccine supply.

C. Boosters for children aged 5-11:
1. If the Pfizer-BioNTech monovalent vaccine is authorized for use as a booster shot for children 5-11 years of age by TFDA, the Pfizer-BioNTech monovalent vaccine will be offered as booster shots for children in this age group.

2. The interval between a booster shot and any previous dose has been adjusted to at least three months (12 weeks, 84 days).

3. If Moderna's COVID-19 bivalent vaccines are granted authorization for use as booster shots for children aged 6-11, these bivalent vaccines will be given to children in this age group who have completed their primary series vaccination using the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and such children who have received the Pfizer-BioNTech monovalent vaccine for their booster shot. Children aged 5 but under 6 are recommended to get boosted using the Pfizer-BioNTech monovalent vaccine.

Dates for vaccinations will be announced in due course by the CECC based on the status of authorization from TFDA, vaccine supply, and the vaccination arrangements of local governments.