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The Thai government has decided to give the second injection of the AstraZeneca vaccine sixteen weeks after the first injection, instead of 10 weeks. The decision comes after several hospitals suspended vaccination with AstraZeneca due to a shortage.
Chulabhorn Hospital has announced that it is delaying vaccinations with AstraZeneca until it receives more doses, as it only has the Sinovac in stock. Vachira Hospital also says it will suspend AstraZeneca vaccinations indefinitely.
There have been rumors for some time that the government does not have enough vaccines. Government spokesman Rungrueng Kitphati admits that in some places there is no longer an AstraZeneca vaccine available and this seems to be happening in other places as well. The ministry will do its best to deliver vaccines to areas that have reported shortages, he says.
Rungrueng emphasizes that one injection is enough to protect against new Covid-19 infections, severe symptoms and death. The second dose is just a booster intended to prolong the body's immune response against the disease. Moreover, recent research has shown that an interval of 16 instead of 10 weeks actually strengthens the immune response.
Source: Bangkok Post
What does the package leaflet of Astra zeneca say?
12 weeks
who is responsible ?
They apparently follow the way of Spain here. It clearly states: “A 16-week interval has not been tested in human trials.”
So I would take those recent tests from Astra with a grain of salt. This would only have been tested at Pfizer. Astra still prescribes between 4 and 12 weeks, as does the European medicines agent.
July 11th I will be vaccinated with Astra Zeneca in chiang mai and that will happen completely free of charge in MAC GORMICK hospital in CHIANG MAI.
So I don't know where people get all these stories from.
“Government spokesman Rungrueng Kitphati admits that in some places AstraZeneca vaccine is no longer available and this seems to be happening in other places as well.”
In some places. So you're in luck (provided your appointment isn't rescheduled before then, it's still 7 weeks to wait until July 11th).
You will then receive your 2nd vaccination sometime in early November (judging by this article).
In Thailand they talk everything right as it suits them best.
In the event of a huge shortage of vaccines, it is useful that there is a lot of time between the 1st and 2nd shot. Can they give many more people a first shot? A bit like: Then we will see later vwb the 2nd injection.
Recent research shows that vaccinating with an interval of 12 weeks is more effective than a shorter term . Just Google it.
I think the article is about 16 weeks, google that? Then you only end up in Thailand, the rest of the world uses shorter terms.
Yesterday I watched a YouTube stream from an American who has lived in Bangkok for about 25 years.
With regard to the vaccinations, he was clear: the Thai does not want Sinovac, vaccinations for foreigners would start in September or October, but count on November (because: Thailand) and the 4-month period between the 2 vaccinations will remain, which means that he will be fully vaccinated around March 2022.
As for the hospitals that want to purchase Moderna, I also wonder whether they will also extend the period between the 2 injections. The government could make this a condition. I don't assume but *nothing* is certain except the fact that Thailand has failed to purchase vaccines.
If you now know that a country like Mexico already signed a contract in December 2020 for the supply of 34,4 million Pfizer vaccines, how is it possible that Thailand, which gets 20% of its GDP from tourism, did not sign any contracts. It must have to do with financial interests… EVERY country can conclude contracts directly with pharmaceutical companies.
All hope for Siam Bioscience factory. I hope it will all work out.
The RIVM also used an interval of 12 weeks, even 14 weeks would be doable. That 12 weeks was set because of a shortage. Shortage is gone, so now “normal” intervals again. AstraZeneca itself also reported that 12 weeks is perfectly manageable. https://www.rivm.nl/nieuws/rivm-past-richtlijn-interval-astrazeneca-aan