Taiwan expects much-anticipated first BioNTech vaccines to arrive soon

TAIPEI: Around 900,000 doses of BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive in Taiwan soon, the health minister said on Tuesday, the first delivery of a much-anticipated order whose tortured progress has transfixed the island.

Taiwan's government subsequently allowed major Apple Inc supplier Foxconn - formally Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd - as well as its high profile billionaire founder Terry Gou, along with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, to negotiate on its behalf for the shot. A $350 million deal for 10 million shots was inked last month, which will be donated to the government for distribution.