COVID-19 vaccination in Thailand explained

COVID-19 vaccination in Thailand
Date:	– present
Location:	Thailand
Cause:	COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
Participants:	112,279,694 total doses (20 Jan 2022)^[1]
Website:

COVID-19 vaccination in Thailand is an ongoing mass immunization in response to the ongoing pandemic in the country.

Background

In November 2020, the authorities ordered 26 million doses of vaccine from AstraZeneca, which reported 70% overall efficacy.^[2] It requires 2 doses of vaccine per person, so the quantity ordered would only cover 13 million people.^[3] Prayut cabinet later approved budget for ordering 35 million additional doses in January 2021.^[4] Siam Bioscience, a company owned by King Vajiralongkorn, will received technological transfer for co-investment.^[5] The authorities also imported 2 million doses of vaccine from Sinovac, a Chinese company which Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand invested in,^[6] during February to April 2021.^[7]

Likewise, the Thai government also stepped up its attempt to produce its homegrown vaccines amidst criticism,^[8] with "ChulaCov19" and set to begin trials in May 2021.^[9] Phase I testing of the NDV-HXP-S vaccine began at Mahidol University in March 2021.^{[10] [11]}

In July 2021, the National Vaccine Institute apologized for slow vaccine deployment.^[12] Meanwhile, the government's prior commitment to secure 61 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine became doubted after a leaked document showed that the company would deliver no more than 60 percent of the number planned per month.^[13] A virology advisor also endorsed an untested plan to mix AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines.^[14] There was already a report of death from the practice, but health professionals said they have to rule out other causes first.^[15]

Vaccines used

National Vaccines

Free Vaccines which are provided under the policies of the Ministry of Public Health.

!Vaccine name!Doses ordered (excluding donation)!Doses arrived(including donation)!Approval (EUA)!First Arrival!Deployment!Ref

Oxford–AstraZeneca	61 million	25.5 million				^[16] ^[17] ^[18] ^[19]
CoronaVac	31.1 million	26.52 million
Janssen	5 million	unknown				^[20] ^[21] ^[22] ^[23]
Pfizer–BioNTech	30 million	3.5 million				^[24] ^[25] ^[26] ^[27] ^[28]

Optional Vaccines

Vaccines that are not in the policies of the Ministry of Public Health. Orders are made through government organizations but the cost of vaccination will not be supported by the government. However, people who get vaccinated by these vaccines are still counted in the national vaccination programme.

!Vaccine name!Distributor!Doses planned
or ordered!Doses arrived!Approval (EUA)!First Arrival!Deployment!Ref

Moderna	Government Pharmaceutical Organization	5 million	0.5602 million				^[29] ^[30] ^[31]
	Chulabhorn Royal Academy	8 million					^[32]
Sinopharm BIBP (BBIBP-CorV)	Chulabhorn Royal Academy	15 million	15 million				^[33] ^[34] ^[35] ^[36]

Vaccines pending approval

• Sputnik V^[20]
• Covaxin^[20]

Vaccination Procedures

Vaccination procedures used in Thailand.^[37]

!First Dose!Second Dose!Third Dose!Fourth Dose!Dose Interval

CoronaVac or Sinopharm BIBP	CoronaVac or Sinopharm BIBP	Oxford–AstraZeneca or Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	Oxford–AstraZeneca or Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	2–4 weeks^[38] (2nd) 4 weeks (3rd) 3 month (4th)
CoronaVac or Sinopharm BIBP	Oxford–AstraZeneca	Oxford–AstraZeneca or Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	Oxford–AstraZeneca or Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	3–4 weeks (2nd) 3 month (3rd and 4th)
CoronaVac or Sinopharm BIBP	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	3–4 weeks (2nd) 6 month (3rd) 3 month (4th)
Oxford–AstraZeneca	Oxford–AstraZeneca	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	10–16 weeks (2nd) 3 month (3rd and 4th)
Oxford–AstraZeneca	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	4–12 weeks (2nd) 6 month (3rd) 3 month (4th)
Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	Pfizer–BioNTech or Moderna	4–12 weeks (2nd) 6 month (3rd) 3 month (4th)

Notes

• MOPH suspended the procedures of the first two doses of Sinovac vaccine on 12 July 2021 due to inefficient immunization against Delta variant. People who received the Sinovac vaccine for the first dose and had an appointment date for second dose after suspension, the second doses will be switched to other vaccines automatically.^[39]
• MOPH suspended the procedures of the first two doses of AstraZeneca on 11 September 2021 due to long dose interval process which takes time for creating immunization. People who received the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine before the suspension will continue to receive the same AstraZeneca vaccine for second dose. However, People who haven't received the first dose before the suspension will have to start with other procedures instead.^[40]
• Excluding the procedure of Jannsen vaccine which is currently imported and managed by the Embassy of France in Thailand under the approval of MOPH, only French nationals living in Thailand are eligible to receive this vaccine for now.

Vaccines in trial stage

!Vaccine!Type (technology)!Progress

NDV-HXP-S (HXP-GPOVac) Mahidol University, University of Texas at Austin,	Newcastle disease virus (NDV) viral vector (expressing the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, with or without the adjuvant CpG 1018) or Inactivated
ChulaCov19 Chulalongkorn University	RNA
Baiya SARS-CoV-2 Vax 1^[41] Baiya Phytopharm Co Ltd.	Plant-based Subunit (RBD-Fc + adjuvant)
COVIGEN^[42] Bionet Asia, Technovalia, University of Sydney	DNA

Notes and References

1. Web site: Covid-19 Vaccination Dashboard . 20 Jan 2022 . MOPH . th . 20 Jan 2022 . 2 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210802001320/https://dashboard-vaccine.moph.go.th/ . dead .
2. News: เรื่องน่ารู้ของวัคซีนโควิด-19 ที่ไทยสั่งซื้อ . 5 January 2021 . BBC ไทย . th . 7 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210107155404/https://www.bbc.com/thai/thailand-55102801 . live .
3. News: ทำความรู้จัก ออกซ์ฟอร์ด-แอสทราเซเนกา วัคซีนที่ไทยเลือก . 5 January 2021 . มติชนออนไลน์ . 2 January 2021 . th . 18 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210418005111/https://www.matichon.co.th/article/news_2509958 . live .
4. News: ครม.ไฟเขียวงบซื้อวัคซีนโควิดเพิ่ม35ล้านโดส ฉีดให้คนไทย66ล้าน . 5 January 2021 . โพสต์ทูเดย์ . th . 28 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210128052943/https://www.posttoday.com/politic/news/642002 . live .
5. News: นายกฯ สำนึกในพระมหากรุณาธิคุณ ร.10 ทรงให้ "สยามไบโอไซเอนซ์" รองรับวัคซีนโควิด-19 . 5 January 2021 . BBC ไทย . 27 November 2020 . th . 6 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210306222948/https://www.bbc.com/thai/55097716 . live .
6. News: 'ซีพี' ทุ่ม 1.5 หมื่นล้านบาท ลงทุน บ.ผลิตวัคซีน 'ซิโนแวค' . 5 January 2021 . กรุงเทพธุรกิจ . th . 5 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210105083532/https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/detail/915653 . live .
7. News: ข่าวดี ไทยเริ่มผลิตวัคซีน "โควิด-19" ในประเทศ รอบที่ 2 แล้ว . 5 January 2021 . ไทยรัฐ . 3 January 2021 . th . 7 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210107072032/https://www.thairath.co.th/news/local/2005712 . live .
8. News: Thailand gov't negotiating to buy Pfizer coronavirus vaccine . 20 April 2021 . AP . 24 June 2021 . 22 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210622235052/https://apnews.com/article/asia-pacific-health-thailand-business-coronavirus-e9e57f27245eebf06dba4a7263c4be26 . live .
9. News: Thai-developed COVID vaccine to proceed to human trials . 18 February 2021 . Al Jazeera . 24 June 2021 . 24 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203924/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/18/thai-developed-covid-vaccine-to-proceed-to-human-trials . live .
10. News: Bangkok Post. Thai-made vaccine ready 'by next year'. Bangkok Post. 2021-04-09. 2023-11-04. https://web.archive.org/web/20231104032707/https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2066063/thai-made-vaccine-ready-by-next-year. live.
11. News: Zimmer. Carl. 2021-04-05. Researchers Are Hatching a Low-Cost Coronavirus Vaccine. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-04-09. 0362-4331. 2021-04-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20210428135245/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/05/health/hexapro-mclellan-vaccine.html. live.
12. News: 'Sorry' for slow vaccine supply . 29 July 2021 . Bangkok Post . 28 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210728165653/https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2152671/sorry-for-slow-vaccine-supply . live .
13. News: Fate of 100m-dose vaccination hangs in the air . 29 July 2021 . Bangkok Post . 29 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210729160711/https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2150423/fate-of-100m-dose-vaccination-hangs-in-the-air . live .
14. News: Thailand plans to mix Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines. Critics say that's risky . 29 July 2021 . CNN.
15. News: Brain swelling killed mixed-vaccine recipient . 29 July 2021 . Bangkok Post . 28 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210728211646/https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2153767/brain-swelling-killed-mixed-vaccine-recipient . live .
16. Web site: 2021-02-24. วัคซีนโควิด19 แอสตราเซเนกา ล็อตแรกถึงประเทศไทย. live. 2021-07-18. Hfocus. th. https://web.archive.org/web/20210225132815/https://www.hfocus.org/content/2021/02/21117 . 2021-02-25 .
17. Web site: 2021-08-18. เจาะห้องประชุม ศบค.อัพเดตสถานะ 7 วัคซีนในไทย ก่อนเคาะซื้อ'ซิโนแวค'เพิ่ม 12 ล้านโดส. 2021-08-18. สำนักข่าวอิศรา. th-th. 2021-08-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20210818120628/https://www.isranews.org/article/isranews-scoop/101655-isranews_news-8.html. live.
18. Web site: Infographic/Quote. live. mhesi. https://web.archive.org/web/20210912115944/https://www.mhesi.go.th/index.php/all-media/infographic/4419-129641.html . 2021-09-12 .
19. Web site: 2021-09-27. เช็คมาตรการคุมโควิด คลายล็อก 9 กิจกรรม รวม 'โรงหนัง-ฟิตเนส' ลดเคอร์ฟิว 22.00-04.00 น.. 2021-09-27. สำนักข่าวอิศรา. th-th. 2021-09-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20210927101626/https://www.isranews.org/article/isranews/102823-isranews_news-139.html. live.
20. News: เปิด 5 วัคซีนป้องกัน COVID ที่ขึ้นทะเบียนในไทยแล้ว. th. Thai PBS. 24 June 2021. 24 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205446/https://news.thaipbs.or.th/content/304738. live.
21. News: อนุทิน เร่งกระจายแอสตร้าเซนเนก้า 1 ล้านโดส พร้อมซื้อวัคซีนเพิ่มครบ 150 ล้านโดส. th. Prachachat. 24 June 2021. 24 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204042/https://www.prachachat.net/general/news-693919. live.
22. Web site: 2021-02-24. ทูตฝรั่งเศสขอนำเข้าวัคซีน "จอห์นสันฯ" ฉีดประชากรตนเองในไทย. live. 2021-07-28. Hfocus. th. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611194539/https://www.hfocus.org/content/2021/06/21866 . 2021-06-11 .
23. Web site: 2021-02-24. COVID-19 Vaccination Services For French Citizens At Bangkok Hospital Headquarters. live. 2021-07-28. Bangkok Hospital Group. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210717022611/https://www.bangkokhospital.com/en/content/covid-19-vaccination-services-for-french-citizens-at-bangkok-hospital-headquarters . 2021-07-17 .
24. News: ด่วน อย. อนุมัติขึ้นทะเบียนวัคซีน "ไฟเซอร์" แล้ว. 24 June 2021. Prachachat. th. 24 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624115340/https://www.prachachat.net/general/news-697894. live.
25. Web site: 2021-07-20. 1.5 Million Pfizer Vaccine Doses, Donated by the United States, Arrive in Thailand. 30 July 2021. US Embassy Thailand. en. 2021-07-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20210730022555/https://th.usembassy.gov/1-5-million-pfizer-vaccine-doses-donated-by-the-united-states-arrive-in-thailand/. live.
26. Web site: 2021-08-05. สธ. เผยเริ่มฉีดไฟเซอร์แล้ววันนี้ หลังส่งวัคซีนให้ครบ 10 จังหวัด. 2021-08-05. ประชาชาติธุรกิจ. th. 2021-08-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20210805123645/https://www.prachachat.net/marketing/news-732357. live.
27. Web site: 2021-08-17. ครม. จัดซื้อวัคซีนไฟเซอร์เพิ่มเติม 10 ล้านโดส รวมเป็น 30 ล้านโดส เริ่มทยอยส่งมอบได้ไตรมาส 4. 2021-08-17. มติชนออนไลน์. th. 2021-08-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20210817092706/https://www.matichon.co.th/covid19/thai-covid19/news_2889913. live.
28. Web site: 2021-09-29. 'ไฟเซอร์' ล็อตจัดซื้อถึงไทยแล้ว 2 ล้านโดส ส่งตรวจคุณภาพ ก่อนกระจายให้กับพื้นที่. 2021-09-29. สำนักข่าวอิศรา. th-th. 2021-09-29. https://web.archive.org/web/20210929171507/https://www.isranews.org/article/isranews/102917-isranews-524-2.html. live.
29. News: "องค์การเภสัชกรรม" ชี้แจง การจัดหาวัคซีนทางเลือก "โมเดอร์นา" 5 ล้านโดส คาด มีการสั่งซื้อต้นเดือน ส.ค. 64. 24 June 2021. Manager Online. th. 24 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204139/https://mgronline.com/onlinesection/detail/9640000061033. live.
30. Web site: เริ่มแล้ว 'เมดพาร์ค' ประเดิมฉีด 'โมเดอร์นา' นำร่องฉีดวัคซีน mRNA. 2021-11-11. 2021-11-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20211111135424/https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/446680/. live.
31. Web site: 'โมเดอร์นา' ถึงไทยแล้ว ใกล้ได้ปักเข็ม ส่ง รพ.เอกชน 10% ทุกแห่งทั่วประเทศ ปชช.ตรวจสอบ-โอนสิทธิได้. November 2021. 2021-11-11. 2021-11-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20211111135423/https://www.matichon.co.th/local/quality-life/news_3020829. live.
32. News: "รจภ. นำเข้า "โมเดอร์นา" วัคซีนตัวเลือกชนิดที่ ๒ กระตุ้นภูมิคุ้มกัน ในปี ๒๕๖๕. 18 Oct 2021. Chulabhorn Royal Academy. th. 18 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211018113140/https://www.cra.ac.th/th/news_activities/view/Moderna. live.
33. News: วัคซีนซิโนฟาร์มล็อตแรกถึงไทย 1 ล้านโดส. 24 June 2021. BBC Thai. th. 25 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210625001316/https://www.bbc.com/thai/thailand-57493912. live.
34. News: ราชวิทยาลัยจุฬาภรณ์ เริ่มฉีดวัคซีน "ซิโนฟาร์ม" ให้ผู้ด้อยโอกาส-ผู้สูงอายุ. 25 June 2021. Thairath. th. 25 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210625100432/https://www.thairath.co.th/news/local/2124402. live.
35. Web site: 'ซิโนฟาร์ม' ล็อต 7 จำนวน 2 ล้านโดส ถึงไทยแล้ว. 2021-08-30. www.bangkokbiznews.com/. 29 August 2021. th. 2021-08-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20210830072001/https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/detail/957247. live.
36. Web site: 2021-09-12. ราชวิทยาลัยจุฬาภรณ์ แจ้ง วัคซีนซิโนฟาร์ม ล็อต 9 จำนวน 4 ล้านโดส ถึงไทยแล้ว. 2021-09-12. bangkokbiznews. th. 2021-09-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20210912113357/https://www.bangkokbiznews.com/news/959660. live.
37. News: คำแนะนำการฉีดวัคซีนโควิด 19. 13 Jan 2022. Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health (Thailand) via Facebook. th.
38. https://ddc.moph.go.th/vaccine-covid19/getFiles/11/1628849610213.pdf
39. News: มีผลทันที ยกเลิกซิโนแวค 2 เข็ม ปรับสูตรฉีดแอสตร้าฯ บูสเตอร์เข็ม 3. 22 Sep 2021. Prachachat. th. 21 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210921234035/https://www.prachachat.net/general/news-712157. live.
40. News: สธ.ยันไทยยกเลิกใช้สูตรแอสตร้าฯ 2 เข็มแล้ว เหตุไม่ทันต่อเดลต้า ปรับใช้สูตรไขว้ทั่วประเทศ. 22 Sep 2021. Matichon. th. 21 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210921232521/https://www.matichon.co.th/local/news_2934134. live.
41. News: Rujivanarom, Pratch . Local jabs yet to join Covid fight . 8 July 2021 . Bangkok Post . 6 June 2021 . 8 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210708064751/https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/2127515/local-jabs-yet-to-join-covid-fight . live .
42. News: COVALIA study update: first healthy volunteers dosed in needle-free SARS-CoV2 DNA vaccine phase 1 trial . 19 July 2021 . Bionet Asia . 30 June 2021 . 19 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210719150049/https://bionet-asia.com/covalia-study-update-first-healthy-volunteers-dosed/ . live .