National –
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is planning to propose to the Thai government a budget of 2.93 billion baht to procure 66 million doses of a Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine to support a significant portion of the country’s population next year.
Panprapa Yongtrakul, the Assistant Spokesperson of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, (CCSA) said at a press briefing yesterday, October 5, that the estimated amount of 66 million doses would be adequate for 33 million Thai people nationwide, who would need about two doses each.
The National Vaccine Committee, chaired by Public Health minister Anutin Charnvirakul, had agreed to procure the vaccination via two methods, according to the assistant spokeswoman.
Panprapa told the press: “The first batch will be reserved under an agreement with Covax, which is a collaboration between the World Health Organization and other groups working on the development and production of the Covid-19 vaccine, which should cover approximately 20 percent of Thais.”
“The second will be from 10 developers who have completed phase-three trials in the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and Russia. They are believed to cover another thirty percent of the population.”
Dr. Nakhon Premsri, the Director of the National Vaccine Institute, added that the vaccination is expected to be ready next year and the requirements for reserving vaccines for Thai people will be discussed later this month. The preorder process is now under consideration by the cabinet committee. Primary health care providers would likely be the first group vaccinated.
He said: “The first group of 33 million people will receive the vaccine at a cost of around 700 baht per person, or about 20 billion baht in total. Each person will require two doses.”
“The purchase and the proposed budget are subject to approval by the cabinet, which will decide if the money should come from the national budget or government loans since the supplies are necessary to be widely used shortly after development is complete.”
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=–=–=–=–==-
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google News, Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube, Pinterest, Parler, Flipboard or Tumblr
Join the discussion in our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/438849630140035/ or in the comments below.
