A total of nine million doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccine are being procured by the Chulabhorn Royal Academy (CRA), to make up for the fewer doses than expected being delivered by AstraZeneca and in an absence of other vaccines, said Ruangkrai Likitwattana, a spokesperson of the parliamentary Budget Committee today (Thursday).

Three million doses have already been delivered, with two million more expected in two weeks, leaving four million more to be procured, said Mr. Ruangkrai, following a meeting with CRA representatives yesterday.

Priority will be given to people with disabilities, monks, priests, the elderly, pregnant women and others without access to vaccination.

Purchasing the vaccine, using a reserve budget from the Crown Property Bureau, the Academy is the only non-governmental organization which can acquire vaccines for the public. An overwhelming number of registrations have been made by various organisations on behalf of their members and employees. 2.26 million people from 16,000 organisations have received the vaccine to date.

A total of 9.7 million doses for 4.85 million people are now booked with the CRA.