Industrial estates authority offers to help with vaccine rollout
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) will work with various government agencies to help with the mass Covid-19 vaccine rollout, Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said on Monday.
IEAT has resolved to use areas under its jurisdiction nationwide as vaccination centres and plans to have the areas ready in line with the Public Health Ministry’s criteria.
“Industrial estates are an important economic area and a top source of income for the country. If the spread of Covid-19 widens, it will have a serious impact on the economy and supply chains across the world, especially in the automotive and electronics industries,” Suriya said.
Veeris Ammarapala, IEAT governor, said vaccines were key in pulling the industrial sector out of the Covid-19 crisis. About a million people living in industrial estates nationwide need to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and half of them have said they are willing to pay up to THB1,000 for a shot.
IEAT is planning to seek a supply of vaccines from the government to kick off an inoculation drive as soon as possible.
