THAILAND: The Chinese Sinovac Vaccine has been approved for local emergency use in Thailand ahead of the launch of the national inoculation program. On Monday, Paisarn Dunkum, secretary-general of Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA) sanctioned the approval. According to the approval letter by the drug manufacturer, the authorization for Sinovac Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine’s jabs is valid for one year.
The order of the first batch of two million doses of the Sinovac vaccine will arrive on Wednesday.
Thailand aims to vaccinate around 50 percent population by the year-end. The locally produced vaccines will be involved in the vaccination program followed by the human trials. Two of the domestically produced vaccines in Thailand are yet to go through human trials.
Earlier this year, the vaccines had been tested on rats and macaques.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the country will also receive 117,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Wednesday. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha is expected to be the first person in Thailand to be vaccinated.
The first Sinovac shots will be administered to medical workers, close contacts with COVID-19 patients, people with certain chronic illnesses, and people aged 60 years or older, according to the Disease Control Department.
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The royally owned company, Siam Bioscience is locally developing the AstraZeneca vaccine after it was approved by Thailand. Moreover, the count of vaccines that will be produced through technology transfer is around 61 million.
Meanwhile, Thailand is set to start its vaccination program in June and India has assured its support to the nation.
