torsdag 26 maj 2022

Six million Thai senior citizens still not boosted against COVID-19 | Thai PBS World

Six million Thai senior citizens still not boosted against COVID-19
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Many Thai people, including about six million senior citizens, are still not vaccinated with third COVID-19 vaccine because they are either concerned about the possible side effects or think that a booster jab is unnecessary, according to Dr. Taweesap Siraprapasiri, a specialist at the Department of Disease Control.

He said, however, that 43% of elderly people have received three doses of vaccine, while only about 40% of other age groups have received three.

If Thailand is to open its doors wider to overseas arrivals and if it does not want hospitals to be packed with severe cases again, he stressed the need for Thai people to be vaccinated with three doses in whichever combination, such as Sinovac-Sinovac-AstraZeneca or AstraZeneca-AstraZeneca-Pfizer, noting that the efficacy of the two formulae in preventing severe symptoms is the same.

Dr. Taweesap presented findings from a study of data conducted by a working team at the Ministry of Public Health between January and March, during Omicron outbreak, on 500,000 people who have received two, three or four doses, to determine their chances of falling sick or whether they actually did. The findings are as follows:

  • Two vaccine shots have the least efficacy in preventing Omicron infection, but are 75% effective in preventing severe symptoms which require ventilators.
  • Three vaccine jabs are 15% effective in preventing Omicron infection, but are 93% effective in preventing severe symptoms which require ventilators.
  • Four vaccine jabs are 76% effective in preventing Omicron infection, but are 99% effective in preventing severe symptoms that require ventilators.

Dr. Taweesap said that the Public Health Ministry continues to campaign to urge people to get three vaccine doses or more, to boost their immunity against infection or risk of becoming severely sick, as he claimed that there has not yet been a fatality in Thailand among those who have received four vaccine doses.

He maintained that all the COVID-19 vaccines used in Thailand are safe and are effective in preventing severe symptoms or death.

He further said that COVID-19 cannot be completely eradicated and people will have to learn to live with it safely.





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Thailand prevails! Country named as "Biohub" by impressed WHO - Anutin praised. Thailand's DPM and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul - who spent much of the pandemic under intense pressure - was all smiles in Geneva yesterday as the kingdom received glowing praise from the World Health Organization and its director general Dr Tedrom Ghebreyesus, notes ASEAN NOW.

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Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thailand's DPM and health minister Anutin Charnvirakul - who spent much of the pandemic under intense pressure - was all smiles in Geneva yesterday as the kingdom received glowing praise from the World Health Organization and its director general Dr Tedrom Ghebreyesus, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Thai Rath reported that Anutin and the WHO have agreed that Thailand should be declared a BIOHUB.

 

They pictured Anutin and Dr Tedros shaking hands in a picture lifted from Facebook.

 

Anutin was in Switzerland attending the 75th congress of the World Health Assembly.

 

Anutin said that Thailand's Covid response had employed "soft power using Thainess - smile first, wai first and that will make a hard task appear much easier".

 

This showed how far the country had come from the early days of the pandemic when Anutin got embroiled in a spat with a non-mask wearing foreigner, had his own mask wearing issues and presided over delays in the procurement of imported and locally produced vaccine, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

All that was in the past as Anutin said that Thailand had been lauded for its Covid-19 response after a WHO team was sent to the country to discover how they did it. 

 

Thailand was praised for preventing disease, its vaccination program, medical treatment for infected people and strong health care system.

 

So much so that the country is now the first to be named in a joint collaboration with the WHO making the country a BIOHUB for collecting existing pathogens, study and research and development of drugs and vaccines. 

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

Thailand is the first country in the world to enter such an agreement because "we are the most ready", according to the minister.

 

Meanwhile this was confirmed by Dr Tedros on Twitter who thanked Anutin for his efforts in ensuring that 70% of the population was vaccinated.

 

This was a key aim since vaccines became available during the pandemic.

 

In addition Dr Tedros said that Thailand was committed to vaccine equality and welcomed the country's cooperation in sharing knowledge about its universal health insurance scheme (the so called Gold Card).

 

ASEAN NOW further notes that there was much consternation among Thai watchers that the country would not treat everyone equally. 

 

This proved unfounded as foreigners in the kingdom lined up alongside Thais for their jabs. 

 

Most even getting their vax for free. 


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Face mask-wearing mandate to be lifted 'only in certain areas'. The Public Health Ministry has issued a clarification about news regarding the lifting of the mask mandate next month, saying the mask requirement may be eased only in some designated areas. Bangkok Post

Face mask-wearing mandate to be lifted 'only in certain areas'
Students wear masks to protect themselves from Covid-19 at Wat Rajabopit School in Bangkok this month. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)
Students wear masks to protect themselves from Covid-19 at Wat Rajabopit School in Bangkok this month. (Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut)

The Public Health Ministry has issued a clarification about news regarding the lifting of the mask mandate next month, saying the mask requirement may be eased only in some designated areas.

Permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry, Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, on Wednesday said the Covid-19 situation has improved faster than expected, so the pandemic may be downgraded to an endemic disease as planned.

The ministry then must step up measures to ensure people can live with Covid-19 safely, he added.

The lifting of the mask requirement is one option but the ministry does not plan to do so entirely yet, Dr Kiattiphum said. Indoor and outdoor masking will be eased in certain areas with lower infection rates and well-prepared treatment systems and where most locals are fully vaccinated.

The mask regulations may be adjusted around mid-June, Dr Kiattiphum said.

However, the high-risk 608 group -- which comprises people aged 60 years and above, those with underlying diseases and pregnant women -- may be required to put on masks in certain areas for their own safety, as well as people in high-density and crowded areas, he added.

Dr Taweesap Siraprapasiri, a senior official with the Department of Disease Control (DDC), said the relaxing of face mask measures may start in 31 provinces which he said includes 14 provinces designated as green zones in the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)'s colour-coded zoning plus 17 provinces in blue zones including Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Phuket.

Another condition is that 60% of the population in the provinces should have three Covid-19 vaccines, he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Prasit Watanapa, dean of Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, urged that 50% of the population receive booster doses, notably those in the high-risk 608 group, before the declaration of endemic status.

Dr Prasit said that as most people from foreign countries have received Covid-19 vaccine booster shots, their governments have also started to ease mask requirements in certain areas, such as open-air venues.

As the Omicron variant is not as deadly as other variants, he said many countries have eased entry measures including vaccine requirements, before declaring the disease endemic.

As such, the Thailand Pass registration may no longer be required for foreigners from June 1, but vaccines must be administered broadly, according to Dr Prasit.






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