The Ministry of Public Health has launched a nationwide rollout of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) to protect young children across Thailand against severe pneumococcal infections.
Public Health Minister Pattana Promphat announced the initiative on Friday, emphasising that disease prevention is essential to safeguarding child health and preventing severe illness, disability, or death in young children.
The three-dose regimen targets infants born on or after October 1, 2025, with doses administered at two, four, and twelve months of age.
Department of Disease Control data showed that 5,217 children under the age of five suffered from severe pneumococcal infections between 2023 and 2025, with patient numbers rising steadily over the three-year period.
The national immunization scheme was developed through a collaboration between the Department of Disease Control, the National Health Security Office (NHSO), and academic experts. Vaccine supplies were distributed to hospitals nationwide in late October.
Health officials urged parents of eligible infants under 12 months to check their rights and schedule appointments at nearby hospitals, projecting a significant decline in severe pediatric infections within 12 to 18 months.
