Covid-19 vaccine

  • Pattaya News4 top tourist destinations to be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccine distribution

    4 top tourist destinations to be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccine distribution

    The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says 4 of Thailand’s major tourism destinations are to be prioritised in the distribution of vaccines. They are Phuket, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Surat Thani. In addition, a further 9 provinces with significant infection numbers are being prioritised in the rollout of the first vaccine doses arriving in the Kingdom today. Taweesin Visanuyothin…

  • Covid-19 NewsHealth Minister says PM will get AstraZeneca vaccine, too old for Sinovac

    Health Minister says PM will get AstraZeneca vaccine, too old for Sinovac

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha was initially first in line for China’s Sinovac vaccine, which just arrived in Thailand today, but Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul now says the the prime minister will be getting the AstraZeneca vaccine. Apparently, 66 year old Prayut is too old to get the Chinese-made vaccine. “It’s important that General Prayut take the first Covid-19 vaccine shot…

  • Thailand NewsTourism officials aim for vaccinated travellers to enter Thailand by the third quarter of 2021

    Tourism officials aim for vaccinated travellers to enter Thailand by the third quarter of 2021

    Vaccinated against Covid-19? You might be able to enter Thailand by July. The country’s tourism officials are now working on a plan to allow foreign tourists who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus to enter the country by the third quarter of 2021. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is waiting for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration to relax certain…

  • Covid-19 NewsTop virologist says vaccine type used in Thailand carries low risk of side-effects

    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…

  • Covid-19 NewsPoll respondents say politicians should be last on the list for Covid-19 vaccine

    Poll respondents say politicians should be last on the list for Covid-19 vaccine

    A survey carried out by the National Institute of Development Administration shows that most people believe politicians should be at the back of the queue for the Covid-19 vaccine. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has confirmed Thailand will receive its first vaccine delivery next week, with the arrival of China’s Sinovac jab on Wednesday. Respondents to the NIDA poll said…

  • Thailand NewsChina’s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine is on its way to Thailand

    China’s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine is on its way to Thailand

    The first 200,000 doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine is set to arrive at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday. PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is expected to formally accept the delivery at Thai Airways warehouse. Thai officials have made an event out of the first vaccine delivery, calling it “Covid vaccines, restoring the Thai Smile.” The Chinese-made vaccine has yet to be approved…

  • Covid-19 NewsGovernment think tank says vaccine rollout vital to tourism recovery

    Government think tank says vaccine rollout vital to tourism recovery

    The National Economic and Social Development Council says the recovery of Thailand’s tourism sector is heavily dependent on the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines and the establishment of herd immunity in the Kingdom. The Bangkok Post reports that Danucha Pichayanan from the NESDC says the government needs to come up with a better plan for the rollout, including prioritising workers in…

  • Covid-19 NewsPM hits back at criticism of vaccine rollout, threatens to hold critics responsible for delays

    PM hits back at criticism of vaccine rollout, threatens to hold critics responsible for delays

    The Thai PM has hit back at opposition politicians who have criticised the national vaccine rollout, warning them that any delays with delivery will be their fault. Responding to Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn, an MP from the Move Forward Party who questioned delivery timescales, Prayut Chan-o-cha warned critics not to politicise the matter. “I am concerned that comments on the vaccines will…

  • Covid-19 NewsHealth Minister says first vaccine doses will be here on February 24

    Health Minister says first vaccine doses will be here on February 24

    Thailand’s Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, says the first doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine will arrive in the Kingdom on February 24. Nation Thailand reports that the first batch of 200,000 doses will leave China on February 20. Anutin’s statement comes after weeks of uncertainty, with the government coming in for criticism over the slow pace of the vaccine…

  • Covid-19 NewsHealth Ministry says 2 million vaccine doses to be administered by April

    Health Ministry says 2 million vaccine doses to be administered by April

    Thailand’s Health Ministry says it hopes to have vaccinated over 960,000 people across 10 provinces come April. The Bangkok Post reports that Sopon Mekthon from the government’s Covid-19 vaccine task force says the initial rollout will target high-risk groups, such as those over the age of 60, those with underlying conditions, as well as frontline healthcare workers and disease control…

  • Covid-19 NewsHuman trials of Thailand’s Covid-19 vaccine to begin next month

    Human trials of Thailand’s Covid-19 vaccine to begin next month

    Thailand’s Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, says the first stage of human trials of a locally-produced vaccine will get underway next month. The jab is a joint collaboration between the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation and the Faculty of Tropical Medicine of Mahidol University. It’s understood the vaccine has performed satisfactorily in animal testing, showing an ability to stimulate immunity. Pannee Pitisutthitgan from…

  • Covid-19 NewsHealth Minister hits back at accusations of vaccine “failure”

    Health Minister hits back at accusations of vaccine “failure”

    Thailand’s Public Health Minister has refuted accusations that the government has failed to procure Covid-19 vaccines in a timely manner, demanding that the media stop confusing the public. A somewhat vexed Anutin Charnvirakul says Thailand cannot be compared with other countries as the Kingdom now has a deal to produce the AstraZeneca vaccine locally. This will make it easier to…

  • Phuket NewsOfficials brainstorm ideas to revive Phuket tourism

    Officials brainstorm ideas to revive Phuket tourism

    Government officials and business representatives on the resort island of Phuket have been busy brainstorming various proposals to revive tourism, with many calling for quarantine requirements to be waived for vaccinated foreigners. The Bangkok Post reports that Bhummikitti Raktaengam from the Phuket Tourism Association says foreign tourists who can prove they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19 should be allowed to enter…

  • Covid-19 NewsHealth officials say 50% of Thais will receive Covid-19 vaccine this year

    Health officials say 50% of Thais will receive Covid-19 vaccine this year

    The chief of the Department of Disease Control, part of the Ministry of Public Health, says plans are underway to vaccinate 30 million Thais by the end of 2021. Opas Karnkawinpong says thousands of public and community hospitals across the country will be involved in the national vaccine rollout, with vaccines distributed from central storage sites at the Department of…

  • Covid-19 NewsChina ready to export vaccine to Thailand, delivery will be “as soon as possible”

    China ready to export vaccine to Thailand, delivery will be “as soon as possible”

    The Acting Chinese Ambassador to Thailand has confirmed that vaccine manufacturer Sinovac Biotech is ready to export its Covid-19 jab to Thailand. Yang Xin was on a courtesy call with Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha, when he confirmed the vaccine has been approved for export to the Kingdom. The exact date when Thailand can expect to receive the vaccine has not…

  • Covid-19 NewsSouth Africa stalls AstraZeneca vaccine campaign after trial found “minimal protection” against new strain

    South Africa stalls AstraZeneca vaccine campaign after trial found “minimal protection” against new strain

    South Africa’s rollout of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine has been put on pause following reports that it only provides “minimal protection” for the new strain of the virus first detected in South Africa. The country will continue plans to administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University, only provides limited…

  • Covid-19 NewsTourism Minister to request 5 million vaccine doses for tourism sector

    Tourism Minister to request 5 million vaccine doses for tourism sector

    The Tourism Minister is planning to meet with PM Prayut Chan-o-cha to request 5 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for workers across 7 tourist cities. Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn is also pushing for a vaccine passport scheme that would allow international tourists to return in the third quarter of the year. The 5 million vaccine doses would cover 2.5 million tourism…

  • Covid-19 NewsClinical trials confirm AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective

    Clinical trials confirm AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective

    The following is a news release from biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Thailand secured 61 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca, developed in partnership with Oxford University. With European Union’s newly-imposed restrictions on Covid-19 vaccine exports, AstraZeneca will now send a batch of 150,000 doses of its vaccine to Thailand from a factory in Asia, rather than from Italy…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand to receive additional AstraZeneca jabs from Asia factory, amid EU export row

    Thailand to receive additional AstraZeneca jabs from Asia factory, amid EU export row

    AstraZeneca says it will send 150,000 doses of its Covid-19 vaccine to Thailand from a plant in Asia, as a result of an EU ruling that restricts exports of the vaccine to countries outside the bloc. The doses had been due to come from Italy. Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says officials have received a letter from the pharmaceutical giant that…

  • Thailand NewsAstraZeneca vaccine to arrive this month, despite EU export restrictions – Public Health Ministry

    AstraZeneca vaccine to arrive this month, despite EU export restrictions – Public Health Ministry

    While there’s no exact date on the arrival of Covid-19 vaccines, the Public Health Ministry is assuring the public that the first order of the AstraZeneca vaccine will arrive this month, despite the European Union’s restrictions on Covid-19 vaccine exports. The National Vaccine Institute is working on getting the first shipment this month, according to the ministry’s permanent secretary. Thailand…

  • Covid-19 NewsMedical expert calls on Thais to trust vaccines and help control Covid-19

    Medical expert calls on Thais to trust vaccines and help control Covid-19

    The dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Siriraj Hospital is calling on Thai people to have faith in Covid-19 vaccines and cooperate with efforts to halt the spread of the virus. Dr. Prasit Watanapa was speaking during a Facebook Live broadcast, saying Thailand needs to build up herd immunity if the virus is to be suppressed. With over 100…

  • World NewsPolice in China bust fake Covid-19 vaccine operation, more than 80 people arrested

    Police in China bust fake Covid-19 vaccine operation, more than 80 people arrested

    Police in China busted a fake Covid-19 vaccine operation, arresting more than 80 people and seizing more than 3,000 doses of the fake vaccine, which were actually just syringes filled with saline solution. The state news agency Xinhua says the bust was part of a law enforcement operation to crackdown on vaccine-related crimes. Police in various provinces including Beijing, Shanghai…

  • Covid-19 NewsJohnson & Johnson applies for vaccine registration in Thailand

    Johnson & Johnson applies for vaccine registration in Thailand

    The Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that multinational Johnson & Johnson has begun the process of registering its single-dose vaccine in Thailand. However, Surachoke Tangwiwat from the FDA adds that some required paperwork is still missing and will need to be filed within 30 days. Meanwhile, the FDA has begun checking the documentation that has been submitted. Surachoke adds…

  • Thailand NewsThai court orders opposition leader to take down videos criticising Covid-19 vaccine plan

    Thai court orders opposition leader to take down videos criticising Covid-19 vaccine plan

    Thailand’s Criminal Court is ordering one of the government’s biggest critics to take down videos on YouTube and Facebook where he says the government’s Covid-19 vaccine plan lacks transparency and unfairly favours a company owned by HM the King. The government is also accusing Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, founder of the Progressive Movement, of violating the draconian lèse majesté law which carries…

  • Covid-19 NewsGermany advises AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine only be given to adults under 65

    Germany advises AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine only be given to adults under 65

    German officials advise that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine should only be administered to people between the ages of 18 and 64. The recommendation follows reports that the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University, has an efficacy less than 10% in those over 65 years old. The pharmaceutical firm shot down the claims saying the reports are “completely incorrect.”…

  • Covid-19 NewsPM Prayut Chan-o-cha says 19 million people will be vaccinated in the first phase of immunisations

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says 19 million people will be vaccinated in the first phase of immunisations

    After criticism that the Thai government is taking too long to start mass Covid-19 immunisation, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha announced that 19 million people will be vaccinated in the first phase of inoculations starting next month. Vulnerable groups and frontline workers in areas at the highest risk of infection are first priority. Out of the 19 million people to be vaccinated…

  • World NewsMass Covid-19 immunisation in poor countries could take until 2024

    Mass Covid-19 immunisation in poor countries could take until 2024

    While developed countries, like those in the European Union, are likely to vaccinate most of the population within the next year, most poor countries won’t be able to reach mass Covid-19 immunisation until 2024, according to an analysis from the Economist Intelligence Unit. 84 of the world’s poorest countries will not receive enough vaccinations to reach herd immunity within the…

  • World NewsAstraZeneca says reports of vaccine’s low efficacy among elderly is “completely incorrect”

    AstraZeneca says reports of vaccine’s low efficacy among elderly is “completely incorrect”

    The pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca says reports that its Covid-19 vaccine has an extremely low efficacy among the elderly is “completely incorrect.” German newspapers published articles today reporting that the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed in partnership with Oxford University, has an efficacy less than 10% in those over 65 years old. The economic daily Handelsblatt reported that Berlin estimated the vaccine’s efficacy…

  • Covid-19 NewsPM vows action against ‘not factual’ information on vaccine plan

    PM vows action against ‘not factual’ information on vaccine plan

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha will order legal action against anyone who “distorts information” about the government’s Covid-19 vaccination plan after the banned opposition politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit had raised the topic of “Royal Vaccine: Who Benefits and Who Doesn’t?” on his Facebook Live feed on Monday. On the Facebook Live, Thanathorn criticised the government’s vaccine procurement and production, commenting that the government…

  • Covid-19 NewsAstraZeneca vaccine could be approved for emergency use in Thailand this week

    AstraZeneca vaccine could be approved for emergency use in Thailand this week

    Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration is likely to approve a Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca in partnership with Oxford University as early as this week. The vaccine, already given the go-ahead in the US and UK, would be approved for emergency use, with administration likely to begin next month. Healthcare workers and those with underlying conditions will be prioritised. Opas…