Anutin rejects claims that AstraZeneca, Sinovac vaccines are ineffective
Experts have confirmed that though the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines might not prevent all Covid-19 infections, they do prevent severe illness and death, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Monday.
Anutin said he was responding to criticism from politicians who claimed that Covid-19 vaccines procured by the government so far were ineffective. The criticism had caused confusion among the public, the minister added.
He said the politicians cited foreign news reports to refute the efficacy of the AstraZeneca and Sinovac brands, even though both vaccines had been approved by the World Health Organisation.
He also claimed the politicians’ criticism had caused difficulties in the government's plan to administer vaccines to all Thailand residents within this year.
"Chulalongkorn University virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan and Department of Disease Control director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong have confirmed that AstraZeneca and Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines are able to contain the spread of the virus and have different side effects,” Anutin noted.
“So it's up to people whether to believe doctors or politicians.”
He said the Public Health Ministry would administer vaccines for MPs next month, adding that MPs who don't want to take vaccine jab must inform Parliament.