Thailand's public health minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, wrote on Facebook that Covid-19 immunizations using the AstraZeneca vaccine will start next week, with a photo of him holding a box of vials containing the vaccine.
The news comes just three days after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha canceled his vaccine plans and the Thai government decided to delay the vaccine's rollout due to concerns about a possible link to blood clots.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is safe, as per Natapanu Nopakun, who spoke at the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's daily briefing this afternoon. Thailand will proceed with its Covid-19 immunization plan.
“Thailand's vaccination program should continue as planned as there is no known link between blood clots and the vaccines.”
Since some people developed blood clots after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, several European countries have suspended their vaccinations.
According to the European Medicines Agency, the number of cases is limited, and an investigation into the reports is a "precautionary measure." They say that of the 5 million people in Europe who got the AstraZeneca vaccine, 30 cases of "thromboembolic events" have been reported.
A spokesperson for the World Health Organization has reported that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe.
Anutin wrote that 800,000 more doses of China's Sinovac vaccine will arrive on March 20 along with the announcement that AstraZeneca vaccinations will start next week. Thailand ordered 2 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine.
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