The coronavirus shot by AstraZeneca and Oxford University will be Thailand’s “main vaccine” as the country tries to revive its crucial tourism sector, the Thai public health minister told CNBC on Monday.
Renewed safety concerns surrounding the AstraZeneca-Oxford shooting have led countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, to stop using the vaccine for people under 60.
Prior to these latest moves, several countries – including Thailand – suspended the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine following reports of blood clots in some people who received the shot. But many lifted their suspensions after the World Health Organization said the analysis of available data showed that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh any risks.
A health worker owns a box of AstraZeneneca vaccine at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi Province, on the outskirts of Bangkok.
Chaiwat Subprasom | Images SOUP | LightRocket via Getty Images
In Thailand, more than 150,000 people have been inoculated with the AstraZeneca vaccine, and the percentage of people who have developed side effects “is considered very low,” said Anutin Charnvirakul, the country’s deputy prime minister and public health minister.
Anutin told CNBC’s “Street Signs Asia” that Thailand expects further deliveries of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which are expected around June. In addition to the AstraZeneca vaccine, Thailand also uses one developed by Sinovac Biotech in China, the minister said.
Since the end of February, nearly 250,000 people in Thailand have received Covid vaccines, Anutin said.
Attracting foreign visitors
Compared to many countries globally, Thailand has reported relatively few Covid cases and deaths. Official data showed that, since Sunday, the country has confirmed over 29,000 infections and 95 deaths.
But its tourism-dependent economy has been severely affected, down 6.1% in 2020 from last year, as countries have restricted travel to slow the spread of Covid-19, according to the National Council for Economic and Social Development.
Thailand is stepping up efforts to revive the tourism industry, including launching “significant” vaccines in popular tourist destinations such as Phuket and Koh Samui, Anutin said.
“We want to make sure that our people are safe, this is our first priority. So, once our people are safe, we believe that our guests, namely tourists or any business people, would definitely come to visit our country. “said the minister.
To attract visitors, Thailand has shortened the quarantine period for foreigners arriving in the country starting this month. The country also aims to drop quarantine requirements for vaccinated foreign visitors to Phuket’s largest holiday island.