Health Ministry Urges Seniors to Get Boosted Ahead of Songkran

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by Natthaphon Sangpolsit

BANGKOK (NNT) - The number of new COVID-19 infections continues to drop, but the health ministry is urging those at heightened risk of severe symptoms to get booster shots of the vaccine.

 

Alternatively, vulnerable individuals may opt to receive long-acting antibody (LAAB) shots. This is especially true with elderly persons, who may be exposed to the virus during April’s Songkran period when many people return to their hometowns.

 

DDC Director-General Dr Tares Krassanairawiwong indicated the COVID-19 situation is improving. The numbers of new infections and hospitalized patients were declining in line with the general situation worldwide.

 

Nonetheless, concern was expressed about the Songkran holiday period at the meeting of health ministry executives on March 1. Those at the meeting feared the high numbers of travelers visiting their hometown or holidaying during the period could raise the infection numbers.

 

The health ministry is therefore calling on members of the ‘608 Group’ of persons at heightened risk of severe COVID symptoms to take precautions. Those taking care of their elderly relatives and operators of senior homes are urged to get seniors under their care vaccinated.

 

They should make an effort to receive the appropriate number of booster shots, or in certain cases, receive the LAAB treatment. This would reduce the risk of developing severe symptoms or death.

 

Dr Tares said the new-generation bivalent vaccine doses from Pfizer delivered to the health ministry on February 20 are now being distributed to health facilities nationwide.

 

He asserted the first and second generations of the Pfizer vaccine, as well as other Covid vaccines, are effective as booster doses.

 

Full story: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230304160917282

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-03-06

 

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[BritScot]

Why? In the UK and Europe and other countries things are starting to unravel about the past 2/3 years. From what I'm seeing people in the UK are getting very angry with the government (both parties) and the media yet Thailand is still pushing this!!!!!

[hotchilli]

49 minutes ago, BritScot said:

Why? In the UK and Europe and other countries things are starting to unravel about the past 2/3 years. From what I'm seeing people in the UK are getting very angry with the government (both parties) and the media yet Thailand is still pushing this!!!!!

Thailand is always behind the curve... 

Songkran will come and go, Covid will do it's thing and government officials will stumble along as normal.

[zzaa09]

Wow. 

Are they still on that kick of promoting boosters that are useless?

[BananaStrong]

As you command.

[h90]

2 hours ago, BritScot said:

Why? In the UK and Europe and other countries things are starting to unravel about the past 2/3 years. From what I'm seeing people in the UK are getting very angry with the government (both parties) and the media yet Thailand is still pushing this!!!!!

Well...a few people who were before angry are not more angry...but most people just don't care. All over Europe the parties that pushed the "vaccine" do not loose any elections.

[spidermike007]

From what I understand none of the boosters available here have been updated to include defense against the new variants. So, is this just an effort to boost Big Pharma, led by the FDA?