Thailand’s COVID-19 Vaccine Management and Distribution
Thailand has received the first 200,00 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from China’s pharmaceutical manufacturer Sinovac Biotech, and the Government has worked out a plan for COVID-19 vaccine management and distribution.
The 200,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 10.17 hr on 24 February 2021. On hand to receive the vaccine were Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and senior officials, as well as Chinese Chargé d’ Affaires Yang Xin, who serves as acting Chinese Ambassador to Thailand.
Another 117,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine also arrived in Thailand on the same day. The Prime Minister will be the first to be vaccinated with AstraZeneca vaccine and Mr. Anutin with Sinovac vaccine in order to create confidence among the people.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet on 23 February approved the plan for COVID-19 vaccine management and distribution, which aims to provide all people in Thailand with access to vaccines against COVID-19. The objectives are to reduce the risk of infections and the rate of deaths and to secure the country’s public health system.
Target groups in the first phase include medical and public health personnel on the frontline, patients with chronic diseases, older persons aged over 60 years, and authorities involved with disease control.
In the second phase, target groups include medical and public health personnel who are not on the frontline, people in the tourism sector, international travelers, the general public, diplomats, members of international organizations, foreign business people, long-stay tourists, and workers in the industrial and service sectors.
The Cabinet also approved the Ministry of Public Health’s plan to increase its order of AstraZeneca vaccine from 26 million doses to 61 million doses.
