Covid-19 vaccination drive to start at February-end

By The Nation

 

 

The Public Health Ministry aims to register the vaccine for Covid-19 in February and the first vaccination drive may start by the end of the month.

 

Speaking on progress in the procurement of the vaccine, Public Health permanent secretary Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit said on Sunday that Sinovac’s inactivated vaccine was created using old technology that was safe. He said there were no reports of any serious side-effects from China's vaccine.

 

He said import of the vaccines will be gradual. The first lot of 200,000 doses from Sinovac will arrive at the end of February, 100,000 doses on March 8, and 1 million doses in April. Then in May, there will be a large batch of vaccines from AstraZeneca -- 26 million doses in the first lot, followed by another 35 million -- totalling 60 million doses for about 30 million Thais.

 

Vaccines from both companies must be registered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they are used. The first lot is expected to be registered on February 14, which is intended to coincide with the Valentine's Day.

 

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department (DDC), added that the first lot of vaccines would be for senior citizens aged 60 years and above, patients with underlying disease, and health personnel working on the frontline in maximum control areas [Samut Sakhon, Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat].

 

“After receiving the vaccine, DDC and FDA will follow up by injecting patients for four weeks to ensure they don’t have side-effects. If there are concerns, the committee may stop the vaccination,” said Dr Opas. He said that the vaccines would be sent to around 11,000 local hospitals and health promotion clinics in each area to facilitate vaccination for the public.

 

Nakhon Premsri, director of the National Vaccine Institute, said a few vaccines had been tested in Phase 3, such as Pfizer's mRNA, which is 95 per cent effective, and requires two injections, 21 days apart. Moderna mRNA vaccine is 94.5 per cent effective. Both are registered in the United States with Pfizer registered in the United Kingdom as well.

 

There is also AstraZeneca viral vector vaccine, whose effectiveness is 62-90 per cent, depending on injection dose, registered in the UK, requiring two injections 28 days apart.

 

The Russian vaccine is viral vector with 92 per cent effectiveness, two injections 24 days apart; inactivated vaccine of the Chinese company, with effectiveness at 79 per cent, requiring two injections 21 days apart.

 

The inactivated vaccine from Sinovac has 78 per cent effectiveness, requiring two injections, 14 days apart. The vaccine is now in the registration process in China.

 

“Each vaccine has some side-effects, some of them quite common, such as fever, headache, pain near the injection area.

 

No serious side-effects have been reported for all five vaccines.

 

When more than a million vaccines are used, side-effects may be difficult to find though small numbers will gradually appear. In this case, vaccination in urgent conditions with severe outbreaks must weigh the results in terms of controlling outbreaks, reducing morbidity and the side-effects of the vaccine,” said Dr Nakhon.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30401051

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-12

 

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I will wait for the Astra version. The other I would not touch!

The irony of paying for a chinese vaccine for a chinese exported virus

The world needs all the vaccines if it is going to get out of this mess.

Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines have now been given to millions and by the time it reaches Thailand it will be at or over one hundred million.

I can understand the reluctance but AZ hasn't exactly covered itself in glory with its media responses to its less than glowing trial results.

Anyway it will be May before most in Thailand get anywhere near a vaccine and by then there will be ample evidence for all to see of the various vaccines.

Johnson and Johnson trial results are due any day. They have a one shot easy storage variant. It could end up being the go to vaccine but who knows.

Most of Malaysia back into medium level lockdown as of tonight. Schools and businesses closed with takeaway only at food courts and restaurants. While only for two weeks initially it's my guess it will continue until after CNY at least.

Good luck... the next three months around the world are going to be eventful in a largely unpleasant way.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Vaccines from both companies must be registered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they are used. The first lot is expected to be registered on February 14, which is intended to coincide with the Valentine's Day.

I fail to see what registration of a Covid - 19 vaccine has to do with Valentines Day!

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

“After receiving the vaccine, DDC and FDA will follow up by injecting patients for four weeks to ensure they don’t have side-effects.

How does injecting patients for four weeks ensure they don't have side effects?

35 minutes ago, graemeaylward said:

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Vaccines from both companies must be registered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before they are used. The first lot is expected to be registered on February 14, which is intended to coincide with the Valentine's Day.

I fail to see what registration of a Covid - 19 vaccine has to do with Valentines Day!

 

Sometimes when reading these articles the quote or otherwise reporting leaves one simply shaking the head with genuine thought of... really W.T.F.  is going on in the mind of whoever said or thought that !!!! 

 

 

8 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

3 hours ago, webfact said:

 

“After receiving the vaccine, DDC and FDA will follow up by injecting patients for four weeks to ensure they don’t have side-effects.

How does injecting patients for four weeks ensure they don't have side effects?

 

Again... ... really W.T.F.  is going on in the mind of whoever said or thought that !!!! 

 

-----

 

In this case I think the interpretation has been incredibly clumsy... I suspect they really mean they will observe patients who have received the vaccine for up to four weeks to ensure there are no side effects. 

Though, why only 4 weeks is a mystery, patients who have received a vaccine should be observed indefinitely and told to report anything strange or different. 

One of my daughter's back in the UK works for the NHS and had the Moderna vaccine just over a week ago. Mild ache at the injection site for a day was the only side effect noticeable.

No Chinese vaccine please, I heard the side effects begin with c水痘hangues of 多洛雷斯·德卡贝萨·德·菲尔布雷斯

2 hours ago, FarFlungFalang said:

5 hours ago, webfact said:

“After receiving the vaccine, DDC and FDA will follow up by injecting patients for four weeks to ensure they don’t have side-effects.

How does injecting patients for four weeks ensure they don't have side effects?

I was more worried about the size of the needle required, needing that long just for one injection -'injecting patients for four weeks'

Are Prayut and Anutin taking the top Chinese gear ????????????????????????

4 hours ago, fruitman said:

Have you read about the Luciferase 060606 which is in the vaccin? Google it....cause you won't believe me.

Do you believe in Father Christmas?

Johnson and Johnson to announce the results of its large South African trial Monday US time.

This is a one jab easy storage vaccine.

If over 70% effective it's a game changer for the world

https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/johnson-johnson-to-submit-trial-data-of-single-dose-covid-vaccine-this-month-11610424270775.html

I also heard on the local radio that the government has approved providing the vaccine privately via hospitals. No idea if it's true but, for us expats who won't be covered by the Thai national scheme, it offers some hope we can get innoculated this year.