THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Ministry unveils Covid-19 vaccine plan for first 2 million doses

Ministry unveils Covid-19 vaccine plan for first 2 million doses

The Ministry of Public Health has said that vaccination for Covid-19 would be undertaken in two phases.

Ten provinces that have seen regular cases in the second wave are in the priority list for Covid-19 vaccination from February to April.

The Covid-19 vaccine policy will cover everyone in Thailand, including migrant workers, to ensure effective disease prevention, Dr Sophon Mekthon, chairman of the government's subcommittee on Covid-19 vaccine management, said on Thursday.

The target groups for Covid-19 vaccine in Thailand is divided into two phases:

Phase 1, due to limited stocks of doses, will prioritise medical personnel and public health officers on the frontline, both in the public and private sectors, people with underlying disease and severe chronic respiratory diseases, people with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease in stage 5 and above, cerebrovascular disease, all cancers during chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, people with diabetes and obesity with weight more than 100kg or body mass index greater than 35kg/m2, people aged 60 and above and staff involved in Covid-19 control who may be required to come in contact with patients.

In phase 2, when there are enough vaccine doses, the focus will be on reviving the economy, society and national security and to build immunity in the population. The target groups are tourism operators, such as hotel staff, entertainment venues, tour guides, international travellers such as pilots/crew, international businessmen, general citizens, diplomats, international organisation staff, and industrial workers.

Dr Sophon Iamsirithaworn, general communicable diseases director at the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said that from February to April, the vaccines will be distributed in 10 provinces with the highest and strict control, areas that used to be the most regulated areas and areas where ongoing infections were found, through hospitals, both public and private, as follows: Samut Sakhon 10 hospitals, Bangkok 62, Samut Prakan 30, Nonthaburi 21, Pathum Thani 22, Rayong 13, Chonburi 32, Chanthaburi 14, Trat 8 and Tak 11.

The vaccination plan for two million doses -- each person requiring two doses -- for 10 provinces is as follows:

Samut Sakhon: 820,000 doses for 410,000 people -- 8,000 medical personnel and 6,000 staff having close proximity to patients, 36,000 people with chronic diseases,150,000 people aged 60 years and above, and 150,000 general public and labourers.

Bangkok: 800,000 doses for 400,000 people -- 32,000 medical personnel and 8,000 staff having close proximity to patients; 100,000 people with underlying disease, 100,000 people aged 60 years and above, and 160,000 general public and labourers.

Nonthaburi: 26,000 doses for 13,000 people -- 9,000 medical workers and 4,000 staff having close proximity to patients.

Pathum Thani: 26,000 doses for 13,000 people -- 9,000 medical personnel and 4,000 staff having close proximity to patients.

Samut Prakan: 28,000 doses for 14,000 people -- 9,000 medical workers and 5,000 staff having close proximity to patients.

Rayong: 18,000 doses for 9,000 people -- 5,000 medical personnel and 4,000 staff having close proximity to patients.

Chonburi: 28,000 doses for 14,000 people -- 10,000 medical personnel and 4,000 staff having close proximity to patients.

Chanthaburi: 16,000 doses for 8,000 peopke -- 6,000 medical personnel, and 2,000 staff having close proximity to patients.

Trat: 12,000 doses, 6,000 people -- 5,000 medical personnel and 1,000 staff having close proximity to patients

Tak: 160,000 doses for 80,000 people -- 8,000 medical personnel, 2,000 staff having close proximity to patients, 10,000 people with chronic disease, 10,000 people aged 60 years and above, and 50,000 for general public and workers.

The remaining 66,000 doses will be kept in reserve to cope with any outbreaks in other areas.

In Phase 2, 61 million doses will be distributed from June and completed by 2021, deploying 1,000 doctors and emergency rooms in hospitals nationwide, at 500 doses per day, 20 days per month, averaging 10 million doses per month. If the vaccines are proved to be safe and effective, DDC may consider expanding the service in some health promotion hospitals.

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