Southern Thailand to receive 500,000 vaccine doses to combat Covid-19 surge

The head of the Disease Control Department says half a million vaccine doses are being sent to 4 southern provinces. Opart Karnkawinpong says the allocation is to help the region battle a surge in Covid-19 infections. The southern provinces have already received an earlier allocation of 500,000 vaccines doses.

According to a Thai PBS World report, the southern province of Songkhla yesterday reported 627 daily new infections and 1 additional death. Most of the cases have been detected in the districts of Jana, Thepa, and Hat Yai, with around 8,000 patients receiving hospital treatment. Officials are carrying out proactive case finding, using antigen test kits, and isolating those found to be infected.

Yala province reported 663 new cases yesterday and 6 fatalities. Officials say most of the infections are linked to the Rodfai and Pimon Chai fresh markets, with 300 high-risk people being targeted for mass testing.

Meanwhile, Opart says that in Bangkok and surrounding provinces, the situation is improving, as the infection rate and fatalities continue to drop. Thai PBS World reports that the DCD chief expects the new daily case load in Bangkok to drop below 1,000 in the near future.

Over 70% of Thailand’s population has now received 1 dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to Opart. He says children over the age of 12 should receive 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine in order to provide adequate protection against the highly-contagious Delta variant. For people who’ve received 2 doses of Sinopharm, he says they should receive a booster dose, as is being done for Sinovac recipients.

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SOURCE: Thai PBS World