Police chief fed up – most policemen refuse to get vaccinated – WITH just 10,000 policemen out of the total force of 240,000 having opted to be vaccinated against coronavirus, National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Suwat Jangyodsuk today (May 11) instructed commanders at all levels nationwide to convince their men to get the jab, Thai Rath newspaper said. Thai Newsroom

Police chief fed up – most policemen refuse to get vaccinated

May 11, 2021  TNR Staff

WITH just 10,000 policemen out of the total force of 240,000 having opted to be vaccinated against coronavirus, National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Suwat Jangyodsuk today (May 11) instructed commanders at all levels nationwide to convince their men to get the jab, Thai Rath newspaper said.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Yingyot Thepchamnong, a spokesman for the police, said policemen are to get an explanation why vaccination is essential for civil servants. However those who refuse to get the jab will not be punished nor will their decision affect their work in any way.

"To get the shot or not, we confirm we are not forcing this because it is considered a personal right, subject to voluntary action. Policemen have the right to be suspicious about vaccines similar to the general public," he said.

"We accept that in the past there may have been poor communication on the necessity of getting vaccinated. The public has to be confident about coming in for service." 

He added that the 10,000 policemen out of the total 240,000 who have got vaccinated are mostly those who work closely with the public and foreigners.

It was reported that 819 police have been infected with coronavirus with 311 still undergoing treatment.