Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul confirmed today (Wednesday) that mass COVID-19 inoculations, scheduled to begin on June 7^th, remain on course, with Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi province designated as one of the main vaccination sites.

Mr. Anutin’s confirmation is intended to reassure the public that they will receive their vaccine jabs, after the institute announced the postponement of inoculations to July, claiming that it had not yet received the vaccines.

The institute subsequently issued a retraction of their statement via Facebook, saying that the vaccinations will go ahead as scheduled, and urged the people to show up as appointed.

The minister said that vaccination is voluntary, as he assured that both the AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines meet required standards and have been approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration.

He added that the ministry is in the process of procuring more and alterative vaccines, such as those from Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.

People who are over 60 and those suffering from any of seven non-communicable underlying diseases will be the first group to be inoculated, starting on June 7^th.

Most of the frontline health officials and those who are at high risk have already been inoculated.