Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Top virologist says vaccine type used in Thailand carries low risk of side-effects
A top virologist from Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University says the inactivated Covid-19 vaccines that will be in use in Thailand carry a low risk of side-effects. Yong Poovorawan says the risk of a severe reaction such as anaphylaxis, is lower with the Chinese Sinovac jab and the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Posting on his Facebook page, Yong says a US study shows that 1 month after the administration of 13.7 vaccine doses, 4.5 cases of anaphylaxis were reported in 1 million patients. No deaths from anaphylaxis were reported. However, Yong says vaccines such as the Pfizer and Moderna jabs are a newer type of vaccine and therefore have the potential to have more side-effects.
“113 deaths reported after receiving the vaccines were proven after autopsy to not be directly related to the vaccines, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. US uses mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, which are relatively new and could have many undesirable side effects.”
Yong says that vaccines such as that developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University are virus vector vaccines, which have been studied for a long time, with a lower risk of side-effects.
“Inactivated vaccines, such as Sinovac’s, that will be used in Thailand should have even less chance of causing side effects including anaphylaxis.”
The first doses of the Chinese jab are expected to arrive in the Kingdom tomorrow, with the PM volunteering to be first to take it. Yong says Covid-19 inactivated vaccines have been developed in the same way as vaccines that have proven successful against other serious illnesses.
“They were created by the same procedures that are used to manufacture working vaccines, such as for rabies, polio and Hepatitis A. Those who are afraid of the side-effects of Covid-19 vaccine can rest assured, as vaccines that Thailand will use have the lowest chance of undesirable side effects. As many Thais as possible should get vaccinated to create a strong immunity, which would help return the outbreak situation to normal as soon as possible.”
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Today, the Thai government is reporting 79 new cases of Covid-19, with 65 locally-transmitted, and 14 imported, raising the total to 26,241 since the pandemic began. 1 new death has been reported, raising the total amount of deaths to 85. The new infections, which are now in the double-digits, shows Thailand’s Covid situation as improving according to the assistant spokeswoman for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, Panprapa Yongtrakul.
“The two-digit level of new cases found at hospitals and communities shows that the local Covid-19 situation is under control.”
The CCSA reports that 43 of the 65 local infections were found in communities with 22 of the 65 found in hospitals across 4 provinces.
Samut Sakhon province, the source of the second wave of Covid in the Kingdom, reported 77% of the new cases. Of the 50 cases found in the province, 38 were found in communities and 12 were found at hospitals.
Pathum Thani reported 8 new cases, with 3 being found at hospitals, and 5 in the community. Bangkok reported 6 new cases at hospitals and Chon Buri reported 1 infection found at a hospital. 12 of the 14 imported infections were quarantined arrivals from Russia, The United Arab Emirates, The United States, Slovenia, South Africa, Germany, Libya and Italy.
The other 2 imported cases were that of Thai women, who ellegedly returned from Myanmar illegally through a natural border crossing in Tak province, despite the government closing off natural border crossings after the February coup by the military in Myanmar.
Covid-19 cases rose worldwide by 446,747 over the past 24 hours to 116.21 million. The worldwide death toll rose by 9,955 to 2.58 million. The US still has the most cases at 29.53 million, rising by 68,321 over the past 24 hours, and the most deaths at 533,636, rising by 1,993 over the last 24 hours.
In light of the recent downturn in reported cases, Samut Sakhon has recently reopened 22 of its wet markets. However, the seafood market where the second wave of the Covid outbreak began, is not one of them, and it is not yet known when that might reopen.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Thailand’s Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, will chair a meeting on Monday, in which a vaccine passport scheme and potential travel bubbles will be discussed. Anutin says those who’ve been inoculated against Covid-19 will be issued with a book to confirm their vaccination. It’s hoped this will make international travel easier, as well as boosting the public’s confidence and helping life return to some kind of normality.
“The Public Health Ministry is making preparations to bring life back to normal, restore businesses and revive the Thai economy.”
A number of groups and industry representatives have added their voices to growing calls for a vaccine passport policy. The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking is urging the government to implement the scheme without further delay, while also calling for private companies in Thailand to be allowed purchase and distribute vaccines.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is also pushing for a vaccine passport policy, while the Tourism Ministry has urged the Health Ministry to approve one. Meanwhile the PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha has asked the Foreign Ministry to carry out a study on vaccine passports, adding that the jury is still out as to their effectiveness. They also have their critics, primarily among rights’ groups and doctors, who argue that there is not yet enough evidence that vaccination prevents transmission.
At Monday’s meeting of the National Communicable Diseases Committee, the Anutin-led panel will also discuss the idea of travel bubbles. Thailand has been considering entering into reciprocal travel arrangements with countries with a high take-up of Covid-19 vaccines.
Meanwhile, Anutin says the public must continue with the practice of mask-wearing, noting that the number of Thais doing so has recently slipped. He says that recent data shows the number of people wearing masks has dropped below 80%, compared to 90% last month.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Hospital in northern Thailand closes to visitors after 2 patients test positive for Covid-19
A hospital in the northern province of Tak has had to shut its doors to visitors after 2 patients treated at the facility subsequently tested positive for Covid-19. Nation Thailand reports that Mae Sot Hospital is now closed to visitors until Monday.
It’s understood that 19 staff members have had contact with 2 patients who tested positive for the virus. Hospital director Thawatchai Setsuppana says the closure is to facilitate a deep clean of the facility and confirmed that a number of medical workers are self-isolating.
“3 doctors, 11 nurses and 5 patient assistants have been ordered to undergo 14-day quarantine.”
Officials are now questioning both patients, in an effort to trace others who may have had contact with them. Tak province is on the border with Myanmar, which has had 142,000 cases of the virus, with 3,200 deaths.
Meanwhile, in the northern province of Sukothai, the provincial Public Health Office has confirmed that a Thai national who returned from working at a casino in Myanmar has also tested positive for Covid-19. It’s understood the woman developed symptoms prior to entering Thailand at the border town of Mae Sot on March 1, before taking a bus to her home in order to attend her grandfather’s funeral.
The provincial health office has issued a statement to confirm the timeline of the woman’s movements. It’s understood 17 people had contact with the woman, with 7 of those considered “high-risk”.
“On March 2, she took a Covid-19 test at Sukhothai Hospital and went shopping in Muang district before heading home. She was admitted to Ban Dan Lan Hoi Hospital on March 3 after her test came back positive.”
It is unclear how the woman managed to evade the mandatory 14-day quarantine. Border officials have stepped up patrols in recent weeks, amid fears that Burmese nationals fleeing the violence in Myanmar may attempt to cross illegally into Thailand, bypassing health checks and quarantine.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Rob
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 12:57 pm
Is there any data demonstrating a continuing existence of protective levels of antibodies in vaccine trial participants since the first test vaccines were injected..?… and ongoing, timely testing of those same individuals..?
Slugger
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:15 pm
No. Why would you want it?
Issan John
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:19 pm
Because without it you can’t know if the vaccine’s effective for a week, a month, a year, or for life, Slugger – until people start to die again, which is a bit late.
J West
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:26 pm
“China” ? ‘ nuff said. Mind if I wait?
Rob
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 3:12 pm
I have a feeling we’ll all be waiting…. and waiting… at least unless/until any of our insurance providers alert us to a vaccine availability…
Issan John
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:16 pm
AFAIK only in Israel, Rob, where it’s extensive with ongoing public reports – they’re testing 200,000 IIRC, with a control group of another 200,000 unvaccinated for comparison, with continued “ongoing, timely testing” of both groups.
It was one of the conditions for Israel being given the vaccines in such quantities (the other being paying twice the market price 😮 ).
There was no “ongoing, timely testing” of anyone in any of the Ph 3 tests by Pfizer, Moderna or AZ except those who were symptomatic -literally no testing at all, which was a surprise to the WHO and many experts who had just assumed it would happen but it was never stipulated.
Go figure …..
jani careni
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 9:47 pm
no
Gosport
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:04 pm
Science says in Thailand. Time to invest.
Lily
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 3:40 pm
A lot of countries in Europe stopped with Astrazeneca because of the lack of immunity response.
Robert Bunker
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 3:59 pm
Lily. A lot of countries in Europe stopped with AZ because of their leaders playing silly games with the UK. Their loss, as will unfortunately be seen in death figures in coming weeks as numbers soar in Europe.
Denis
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 4:29 pm
What i can say about AZ is coming from experience of my nephew who is doctor in Covid service, in a french hospital.
He and his colleagues (young team less than 45 yo) has been injected AZ last week. 6 hours after injection, all of them had about 39°C fever and strong headaches. Many of them had to stop working and stay in bed 3 days. They just begin to feel better…
AZ, not for me !
Lily
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 1:39 am
Nope…that’s not right. Because the vaccine is not working enough, especially in older people.
Alavan
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 5:32 pm
No they didn’t. It is still used, but some countries put an age limit of 55 years on it, awaiting more research on older people. There only seems some hesitance in Germany.
Lily
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 3:45 pm
“113 deaths reported after receiving the vaccines were proven after autopsy to not be directly related to the vaccines”
When you die with underlaying conditions and Covid, you died of Covid
When you die after taking the vaccine, then it’s because of your age, underlying conditions. But it’s never the vaccine. Get real!!
luca
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 3:53 pm
Israel has vaccinated almost half of its population, the first data confirm an efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine equal to 94% against hospitalization and 100% against serious cases, moreover it seems that the vaccinated are not able to infect others, if confirmed would be excellent results. The Chinese vaccine is not guaranteed by similar and international studies, only Brazil has released data that are not very positive, and all the countries that adopt the Chinese vaccine are dictatorships, instead of the Thai I would not be comfortable with the Chinese vaccine
Denis
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 4:22 pm
Once again, I can only agree with the choices of the Thai government. Their choice to eliminate MODERNA and PFIZER is reasonable: Too many unknowns in terms of side effects in the short, medium and long term. I’m not the big pharma guinea pig…
Favoring the traditional method of SINOVAC and possibly that of ASTRAZENECA is a choice of reason.
Personally, I would only vaccinate with SINOVAC, having doubts with ASTRAZENECA. My doctor nephew and his French hospital colleagues received it 10 days ago and all had high fevers, headaches for several days. They’re just recovering.
Gosport
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 6:10 pm
Traditional one is fine considering such short trial period.
Ian
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 7:15 pm
Nobody knows long term affects yet it’s not a year old only time will tell if the world has rushed these vaccines
Ben
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 7:52 pm
Side effects like fever, headache, muscle ache and pain at the injection site are common and mean your body is mounting an immune response which is what you hope for.
The trials to date concentrated on safety and studying whether vaccines prevented you from becoming infected and seriously ill because people were dying from COVID and we had to stop that to get back to a normal life. We don’t have answers for pregnancy, children, infectiousness after vaccination, how long the vaccine lasts and a lot of other questions people have because the scientists haven’t had time to answer them. They are now turning their attention to that as job one appears to have been accomplished. The answers to these questions will come in the near future.
Israel has vaccinated about half its population with Pfizer and is opening up their country internally after having one of the worst infection rates early in the pandemic. They’re gathering data on their entire population for use in studying the vaccine and answering all the questions people have about efficacy, side effects, infectiousness after vaccination, variants, etc. Unless there is a major hiccup the country should be back to a new normal in a very short period of time and we’ll have a lot more answers to our questions.
We would all like to wait until all the questions are answered before taking the vaccine but by then all our economies will be dead. Safety and efficacy for now is what we have and is a good basis for vaccination and opening up the world.
For me personally that’s good enough as I get my second dose of Pfizer this Sunday. Not only will I feel better about not getting COVID and becoming severely ill, I’ll feel good about helping my country recover from this terrible pandemic. I’ll be able to gather with friends and family who have also vaccinated without fear of spreading it to them. I’ll also begin to travel again and get on with my life. I expect to get a few side effects that’ll last about a day.
Yan
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 8:02 pm
A low risk for side-effects…and a low and/or not proven efficacy…Compared to the Western vaccines this product is worthless.
Jim kelly
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 8:42 pm
I’M OK CHAPS… I DON’T NEED A VACCINE.
Richard
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 8:28 am
I’m already immune, I live in Issan where no one quarantines.
Stardust
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 10:01 am
There is no data disclosure til now from Sinovac! He only can talk about the datas from biontech and others which have a open data base. This virilogist leaning out the window if he is doing so and no serious top virologist in europe, usa ,Israel or Japan would do so. Also Singapore warned about because of insuffient datas! He should first listen what tge real top virologist say in the civilized free developped world before talking about something what not exist!