Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed his wish, in his New Year’s address given against the backdrop of a second COVID-19 outbreak, that Thai people will be happy and safe and that they reflect on their performance in the past year, in order to change for the better.

He said that people are facing a situation which requires the exercise of great caution by all concerned, adding that the coming year should be the “Year of Family” and a year of happiness at home or in safe places, while admitting that he does not know how long the current challenging situation will last.

He said he wishes everyone well for the coming year.

The prime minister has instructed Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to negotiate with all COVID-19 vaccine producers for the procurement of vaccines for the Thai people, in addition to the vaccine from AstraZeneca, which has already been secured.

Anutin said that the first shipment of two million doses from AstraZeneca is expected to arrive in Thailand between February and April.