BANGKOK, Sept 28 (TNA) – The cabinet approved the procurement of 165,000 additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca from Spain and expected delivery early next month.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said the cabinet assigned the Department of Disease Control to order the amount of the vaccine in addition to the 449,500 doses that the cabinet had resolved on Sept 14 to procure from Spain. The total procurement from Spain rose to 614,500 doses.
Mr Thanakorn said Spain would deliver both lots within early October and the procurement resulted from Thailand’s negotiations to buy COVID-19 vaccines from countries in the European Union.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kiatiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, said new COVID-19 cases could drop to about 5,000 a day in October because more people would be vaccinated.
So far, more than 50% of the Thai population received their first jab and about 25% had the second dose. Without mutation, the disease would be controlled at a certain degree, he said.
The latest new COVID-19 cases fell because of previous lockdown measures. The COVID-19 would fade away next March and people would have to wear face masks for another year, Dr. Kiatiphum said. (TNA)
