The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is to open new channels for COVID-19 vaccination applications, through a website, an application and convenience stores starting this Thursday.

Bangkok Governor Aswin Kwanmuang said today (Tuesday) that people living in Bangkok, aged from 18 to 59, who are not among people afflicted with any of seven non-communicable underlying diseases, can apply for vaccination through three channels from Thursday.

The “Pao Tang” app is available for people who have applied for state subsidy schemes and have already had their personal data in the syste,. They simply state their wish to be vaccinated and wait for an SMS confirming the appointment. Those who have not joined any state subsidy scheme can apply via the website www.ไทยร่วมใจ.com instead.

Another channel is for those who do not have a smart phone. They can use their ID cards and apply at any convenience chain store, such as 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Tops Daily Mini Supermarket or Mini Big C, from 8.30am until 6pm, or they can ask one of their family members to apply on their behalf via the website.

Governor Aswin said that the new channels will provide wider and more convenient public access to the vaccines which will, hopefully, help in the containment of the pandemic.

Additionally, he said that the BMA, with the cooperation of mobile phone service providers, has opened a call centre number 1516, with 450 lines open from 8am to 8pm daily, to receive calls from members of the public who may have questions about the vaccination application process.