Altogether 319 Thais, including Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, were given Sinovac vaccine injections on Sunday and, so far, there has not been a single case of severe side effects.

CCSA spokesman Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin ,who was among the 319 vaccinated group, said today (Monday) that the 200,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine from China have now been distributed to several provinces, including Samut Sakhon, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Tak, Pathum Thani and Surat Thani and to be inoculated to high risk groups of people first.

According to the Health Security Act, in case of severe side effects from the injection result to death, permanent disability or serious illness requiring life-long medical care, the victim or his/her family will receive compensation from 240,000 to 400,000 baht. If the injection causes the loss of a limb or disability that will impact heavily on his/her lifelihood, the compensation will range from 100,000 baht to 240,000 baht.

Meanwhile, 80 new COVID-19 cases were recorded in Thailand today, including 64 locally-acquired cases and 16 among arrivals from abroad in state quarantine. The imported cases include four from Bahrain, two each from Nigeria, UK, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and US, and one each from Switzerland and South Africa. Of the 64 local cases, 35 are in Pathum Thani, 19 in Samut Sakhon, 3 in Tak, 2 each in Nakhon Pathom and Bangkok, one each in Chon Buri, Ratchaburi and Nonthaburi.

Dr Taweesin said health officials still continue with proactive screenings in high-risk communities, such as those in Pathum Thani, where 35 new cases were found, including 31 Myanmar migrant workers and four Thais, including a one-year old baby. Cumulative infections, since early last year until to date, are 26,031, with 25,234 recoveries and 83 deaths. 624 others are still being treated in hospitals.