People wear face masks to help protect against the spread of the coronavirus after the COVID-19 alert rose to level 3 in Taipei, Taiwan, on July 12, 2021. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

       TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- The Taiwan government approved on Monday the production and emergency use of the first locally developed COVID-19 vaccine, a landmark event in the self-ruled island's fight against the deadly coronavirus.

       Food and Drug Administration Director General Wu Shou-mei, speaking to the press at the Central Epidemic Command Center, also said that the vaccine produced by Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp. should gradually become available starting next month.

       "(Medigen) is designed for people aged over 20 who will get two shots 28 days apart," Wu said.

       The Taiwan-based biopharmaceutical company announced on June 10 that it had completed the second phase of clinical trials for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate and that the results met the safety standards set by the FDA for an emergency use authorization.

       As the company was granted the emergency use authorization, it is working to conduct phase three clinical trials at home and abroad to seek international recognition.

       The Taiwan government has signed contracts to purchase 5 million doses of the Medigen vaccine and another 5 million doses from another local vaccine maker, United Biomedical Inc., whose application for emergency use authorization is still pending.

       The government has also signed contracts to purchase nearly 20 million vaccines from Moderna, AstraZeneca and unspecified brands through the global COVAX facility.

       As of Sunday, a total of 5.19 million COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered in Taiwan, covering about 22 percent of the total population.

       President Tsai Ing-wen has set the goal of having 20 to 25 percent of the population receiving at least one dose of the two-shot vaccine regimen by the end of this month.

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