BANGKOK: Thailand on Tuesday defended mixing two different COVID-19 vaccines to fight a surge in infections. WHOThe U.S.’s top scientist warned that it was an “alarming trend” that was not supported by evidence.
The state is struggling to contain its latest outbreak by the highly contagious Delta variant, with cases and deaths skyrocketing and health care The system is spread thin.
Officials said they would try to achieve a “booster” effect in six weeks instead of 12 by mixing the first dose of the Chinese-made Sinovac jab with the second dose of AstraZeneca.
Thailand’s leading virologist young proud Said that this would be possible by combining an inactivated virus vaccine – Sinovac – with a viral vector vaccine such as AstraZeneca.
“We cannot wait 12 weeks (for the booster effect) in this outbreak where the disease is spreading rapidly,” he said.
“But in the future, if there are better, better vaccines … we’ll find a better way to manage the situation.”
His comment comes a day after World Health OrganizationChief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan called the strategy a “dangerous trend”.
“We are in a data-free, evidence-free zone of ‘mix-and-match’ form”, she said.
Thailand has reported more than 353,700 coronavirus cases and 2,847 deaths – most of them detected since the latest wave in Bangkok’s nightlife district in April.
Healthcare workers were the first in line to receive Sinovac, but officials said on Sunday that nearly 900 medical workers – most of them vaccinated with that shot – got Covid-19.
They will now also get AstraZeneca pfizer-biontech Booster shot, officials said.
Virus hotspot Bangkok and nine other hard-hit provinces are now under strict restrictions, including a night curfew and a ban on gatherings of up to five people.
Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha’s administration has come under vociferous criticism for its handling of the pandemic, from allegations of vaccine mismanagement to a lack of government compensation for affected areas.
On Tuesday, his cabinet approved a 30 billion baht ($920 million) resettlement plan to aid businesses – including retail, entertainment and construction – in Bangkok and nine other provinces affected by severe restrictions.
The cabinet said that residential utility bills like water and electricity will also be reduced for two months.
The state is struggling to contain its latest outbreak by the highly contagious Delta variant, with cases and deaths skyrocketing and health care The system is spread thin.
Officials said they would try to achieve a “booster” effect in six weeks instead of 12 by mixing the first dose of the Chinese-made Sinovac jab with the second dose of AstraZeneca.
Thailand’s leading virologist young proud Said that this would be possible by combining an inactivated virus vaccine – Sinovac – with a viral vector vaccine such as AstraZeneca.
“We cannot wait 12 weeks (for the booster effect) in this outbreak where the disease is spreading rapidly,” he said.
“But in the future, if there are better, better vaccines … we’ll find a better way to manage the situation.”
His comment comes a day after World Health OrganizationChief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan called the strategy a “dangerous trend”.
“We are in a data-free, evidence-free zone of ‘mix-and-match’ form”, she said.
Thailand has reported more than 353,700 coronavirus cases and 2,847 deaths – most of them detected since the latest wave in Bangkok’s nightlife district in April.
Healthcare workers were the first in line to receive Sinovac, but officials said on Sunday that nearly 900 medical workers – most of them vaccinated with that shot – got Covid-19.
They will now also get AstraZeneca pfizer-biontech Booster shot, officials said.
Virus hotspot Bangkok and nine other hard-hit provinces are now under strict restrictions, including a night curfew and a ban on gatherings of up to five people.
Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha’s administration has come under vociferous criticism for its handling of the pandemic, from allegations of vaccine mismanagement to a lack of government compensation for affected areas.
On Tuesday, his cabinet approved a 30 billion baht ($920 million) resettlement plan to aid businesses – including retail, entertainment and construction – in Bangkok and nine other provinces affected by severe restrictions.
The cabinet said that residential utility bills like water and electricity will also be reduced for two months.
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