The Ministry of Public Health has instructed health officials across Thailand to find out why there are still so many people refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19, so appropriate campaign strategies and incentives can be developed to encourage them to get inoculated, said Permanent Secretary Dr. Kiattibhoom Vongrachit.
The Public Health Ministry has set a target to have administered 100 million doses of vaccines by the end of this month, but there are still about 10 million people who are yet to get their first dose.
The ministry has launched a vaccination campaign by providing free vaccinations from November 27th to December 5th to members of the public, including foreign migrant workers and especially elderly people and bed-ridden patients.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is also offering free vaccinations in Din Daeng.
To prepare for the reopening of all Thailand’s provinces to travellers, Dr. Kiattibhoom said that that the ministry has adopted the “VUCA” strategy, which focuses on Vaccination, Universal prevention, COVID free settings and Antigen test kits.
Regarding COVID-19 pandemic, he said that new infections have stabilised and deaths and severe cases are declining. There are, however, 13 provinces still under close watch.
Those 13 provinces are grouped into three categories:
- Five provinces which each log over 100 new infections per day and over 5% positive results from antigen tests. These include Songkhla, Surat Thani, Trang, Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
- Three provinces which each log over 100 new infections per day and less than 5% positive results from antigen tests. They are Khon Kaen, Sa Kaeo and Nakhon Ratchasima.
- Five provinces which have 50-100 daily new infections. They are Saraburi, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Kanchanaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Dr. Kiattibhoom said that officials are now keeping a close watch on whether infections will surge and by how much in the aftermath of the Loy Krathong festival, during which more people travelled and foreign arrivals increased.
