Thailand’s national vaccine rollout may begin next week

Thailand’s long-awaited national vaccine rollout could finally get underway next week, as supplies have arrived ahead of schedule. Natapanu Nopakun from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says once the doses have been distributed to walk-in vaccination centres, inoculation can begin. He points out that provinces that have already taken delivery of vaccine doses can open walk-in centres and begin vaccination immediately.

The government is also working on a version of the Mor Prom app that will allow foreigners living in the Kingdom to register for the free vaccination programme. Once launched, the app will enable foreigners to register and get an appointment at a vaccination facility. Alternatively, they will be accepted at any walk-in centre once those are up and running, but Natapanu points out that registration is still the preferred option. He says the government is working on an English-language version of the app, as well as versions in other languages.

TTR Weekly reports that a number of independent institutions are supporting the national vaccine rollout. Rangsit University, in the central province of Pathum Thani, has surveyed residents in a huge housing development that surrounds its campus and found that the majority are in favour of vaccination. From June, 50,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been earmarked for 25,000 residents in the development. It’s reported that appointment slots filled up within hours of registration opening yesterday, with 1,000 people a day confirmed for vaccination.

SOURCE: TTR Weekly