Public Health Ministry considering measures to boost vaccination rate

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is looking at ways to encourage more people to get vaccinated, as the government tries to meet its target by the end of the year. Ministry spokesman Dr Sopon Mekthon says officials have a target to administer 100 million doses by the end of 2021. Currently, they are short around 15 million doses, having administered 85 million to date.

Sopon says the government may introduce compulsory measures to improve vaccine take-up. These could include having to be vaccinated to enter certain public spaces. However, nothing has been confirmed yet and Sopon says if this does go ahead, the Department of Disease Control will clarify the requirements.

The Bangkok Post reports that, in some parts of the country, provincial officials have introduced lucky draws at public health centres, in order to encourage more people to get vaccinated. The Transport Ministry has also said it will offer a 20% discount on fares for vaccinated passengers. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says getting vaccinated is now a social responsibility in order to make communities safer. He says his ministry is working on ways to increase the take-up rate, including providing a mobile vaccination service for the elderly and bedridden.

“Society will define its own rules on whether to allow unvaccinated people to enter premises.”

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SOURCE: Bangkok Post