The Thai government has defended its so called "mix and match" strategy of giving people a first dose of the Sinovac vaccine from China followed up by a shot of locally produced AstraZeneca. ASEAN NOW



Picture: Sanook

 

The Thai government has defended its so called "mix and match" strategy of giving people a first dose of the Sinovac vaccine from China followed up by a shot of locally produced AstraZeneca. 

 

Spokeswoman for the Center for Covid Situation Administration Apisamai Srirangsan said the cocktail helped to prevent infection and decrease the risk of serious disease, even death. 

 

The news came as Thailand reported a record death toll in excess of 300 for the first time. 

 

Apisamai was responding to doubts expressed over the efficacy of Sinovac as the health authorities in Thailand tried to procure 12 million more doses of the Chinese vaccine.

 

The authorities have cited studies into the cocktail being made by respected institutes like Chulalongkorn University, Ramathibodi Hospital and Sirirat Hospital.

 

The findings from more detailed studies are not due out for several months, however, according to Dr Opas Kankawinpong.

 

Sanook reported yesterday that the number of Thais innoculated with a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine was now more than one quarter of the entire population. 

 

But only about one in fourteen had received the all important second dose.

 

They said that 24,100,631 shots had been jabbed so far.

 

Of these 18,370,997 or 25.5% of the population were first doses and 5,228,157 were second doses comprising 7.3% of the population.

 

Three doses had been administered to 501,477 people, many of these being frontline medical personnel and key workers.