— In ramping up its COVID-19 vaccination drive, Thailand is to purchase additional 30 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to be used in July and August to meet its vaccination target.
Director of News Division, Department of Information of Foreign Affairs Ministry, Pensom Lertsithichai said the cabinet on Tuesday had approved the procurement of 20 million doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
While the vaccine is due to be delivered in the fourth quarter this year, she said another 10 million doses of China’s Sinovac is scheduled to arrive in the next two months.
“The cabinet also approved Moderna as an alternative vaccine, which will be offered by private hospitals to the public at a price,” she said at COVID-19 daily briefing here today.
Meanwhile, Pensom said Thailand may miss its vaccination target this month as only five to six million doses of the locally produced COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine would be delivered.
Therefore, she said the authorities have been stepping up inoculation of the elderly and people with underlying health conditions with AstraZeneca, while the rest of the general public will ge the Sinovac vaccines to help meet its vaccination target.
Thailand aims to administer an average of around 10 million shots a month from July so that by early October almost 50 million people will have had at least their first shot administered and by mid October when the kingdom will reopen to fully vaccinated visitors.
Meanwhile, Thailand will receive a share of COVID-19 vaccine donated by the United States (US), said the US embassy in Bangkok in a message posted on Facebook page today. However, the embassy did not detail the amount of vaccine Thailand will receive.
Local media reported the US will donate 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine to Thailand that is expected to arrive this month and next month.
Meanwhile, Pensom urged the people especially those under the vulnerable groups to receive any type of vaccine available to prevent the loss of life and relieve the burden on healthcare system.
According to the Adviser to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) Dr. Udom Kachintorn, all vaccines being administered in Thailand were highly effective in preventing severe illness and deaths.
On booster shot, Pensom said the medical colleges in Thailand were now studying the necessity and effectiveness of such booster shots.
“There is currently no proven scientific data available on the efficacy of a booster shot, however, some countries have been administering a mixture of vaccines manufactured using different technologies which appear to be significantly helpful in preventing hospitalization and death.
“The result of this study is expected to be concluded in one month. Then, should it be deemed necessary, the inoculation plan for booster shots could be made,” she said.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency