The Thai Medical Council is urging the public and private sectors to procure sufficient effective COVID-19 vaccines as quickly as possible and to make sure that all Thais have access to the vaccines free of charge, as mandated in the Constitution.

In a statement, issued Thursday night, the Thai Medical Council, led by Honorary Professor Dr. Somsri Phaosasawad, voiced its full support for the procuring various makes of mRNA vaccines,which are efficacious against mutated virus variants, to be administered to frontline medics and members of the public without charge.

The council also urged the provision of free access to COVID-19 testing for anyone who needs the service, so that they can gettreatment if they test positive for the disease.

Meanwhile, it is reported that many people went to Phra Sri Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple, in Bang Khen district this morning, in order to get COVID-19 testing, but were turned away by officials, who told them that the quota of 900 teststoday had already been filled.

Many people had been arriving at the temple since last night,despite the rain, waiting for queue numbers, which were distributed by officials of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration from 5.30am. By 7am, however, the 900 queue numbers for the day had already been distributed.

One man told a Thai PBS reporter that he and his family left home, in Lam Luk Ka district in Pathum Thani, early this morning for a testing centre in Huai Khwang district, but found that the centre is not open yet. They then travelled to Phra Sri Mahathat Temple, arriving at about 6.20am and, luckily got queue number 680.

Others who could not get their queue numbers have demanded that the authorities open more testing facilities, to reduce congestion and the risk of getting infected or of spreading disease to other people.