Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) is ready to deliver the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of February to hospitals after it passes the Department of Medical Sciences' quality tests. Hospitals will administer the vaccine to target priority groups in a maximum and strict control zone, maximum control zones, control zones and greatest economic significance zones. COVID-19 vaccine will be stored and distributed to hospitals by DKSH.
Bangkok, Thailand February 24, 2021 — At DKSH's Sripetch Distribution Center, serving as the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO)'s COVID-19 vaccine storage facility, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Chinese chargé d'affairesYang Xin, Deputy Health Minister Dr. Satit Pitutacha, Dr. Assistant Public Health Minister Dr. Sopon Mekthon, MOPH's permanent secretary and GPO's chairman Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit, and other MOPH officials monitor the storage and handling of the first batch of COVID-19 at DKSH's cold storage room. In this first batch, each box contains 40 vials of COVID-19 vaccine.
Anutin said that the government plans to vaccinate all of its population which is done on a voluntary basis to increase health promotion and disease prevention. Today the first 200,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine have arrived in Thailand; 800,000 more doses of Sinovac vaccine will arrive in March 2021 and one million more doses in April 2021 — two million doses of the vaccine in total to be used in the first phase of inoculations from March to May 2021. In cooperation with DKSH, the vaccine will be stored and handled with temperature and quality control in the cold chain, and distributed in line with international standards. By the end of February, it is expected that the vaccine will be distributed to hospitals and be given free of cost to priority groups of Thai population, healthcare professionals and village health volunteers in a maximum and strict control zone, maximum control zones, control zones and greatest economic significance zones in 18 provinces. Ensuring the quality of vaccines, they are safely kept and transported at 2-8 degrees Celsius. Thailand's Food and Drug Administration assessed Sinovac's vaccine based on quality, safety and efficiency, and has approved and registered the vaccine for emergency use, effective February 22, 2021. Additionally, in protecting people's health, Thailand will receive 61 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and vaccinate target groups in Phase 2 from June to December 2021. It is expected that Thailand will resume tourism in late 2021, which is the peak tourist season, to drive the country's economic recovery.
Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary of Ministry of Public Health, said that Thai health ministry has prepared and implemented a system for vaccine administration. The ministry's important task and mission is to reduce infection and mortality rates. The plan is to provide the vaccine to senior citizens aged 60 years old and above and individuals with chronic health conditions. Additionally, to protect healthcare and public health systems and to boost Thailand's socio-economic status, healthcare professionals, public and private health workers, frontline workers who are at risk of exposure, and individuals and workers in the service, tourism and industrial sectors will also get the vaccine.
Because the supply of COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be limited at first, the ministry plans to provide 200,000 doses of vaccine from March to May to priority groups in 18 provinces, namely Samut Sakhon, Bangkok (west), Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Tak (Mae Sot district), Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Chonburi, Phuket, Surat Thani (Koh Samui), Chiangmai, Krabi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat and Phetchaburi. Phase 2 starts from June to December 2021 and the ministry plans to provide 61 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine — around 10 million doses per month — to target populations. Thailand's Department of Disease Control also works on developing a digital vaccine passport to allow people who have been vaccinated to travel internationally or domestically. This passport might also be used for other types of vaccinations in response and preparation for a new outbreak of newly emerging infectious diseases.
Thailand's National Vaccine Institute stated that Sinovac's CoronaVac is an inactivated virus COVID-19 vaccine. Thai health ministry plans to give this vaccine to those aged 18-59, two shots each. The interval between CoronaVac doses is two to four weeks. The ministry will further assess vaccine effectiveness and side effects 30 days after each vaccination. The ministry recommended two-week intervals between shots of the two vaccines for people living in a highly controlled area. This vaccine is not recommended for patients with serious chronic diseases, patients with severe nervous system disorder and pregnant women. Breastfeeding women and people with immunodeficiency can be vaccinated, but with caution. In addition, patients can receive a shot of COVID-19 vaccine while receiving another immunization, but should be spaced at least 14 days from any other vaccine. Currently there is not enough evidence and information that COVID-19 vaccines are interchangeable; hence, it is recommended that both doses of the series should be completed with the same product.
John Clare, Vice President Healthcare of DKSH Thailand & Indochina (Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos) said that DKSH, formerly known as Diethelm, is an expert in warehousing, packing and distribution of healthcare products with the highest quality standards. DKSH has been a key provider of logistics for pharmaceutical products in Thailand and has supported the Government Pharmaceutical Organization in several vaccine projects for more than ten years. DKSH is ready to support the government to distribute these 2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to hospitals free of charge. The vaccines will be stored in DKSH's innovative “Brilliant Box,” cold chain packaging tool which provides an important solution to keep the COVID-19 vaccine safe while maintaining their quality throughout the strictly regulated temperature control requirements between 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. The Brilliant Box uses an excellent insulating material that is ultra-lightweight. The box is also reusable to help reduce environmental impact. Moreover, DKSH's temperature-controlled truck, equipped with data logger to monitor the temperature of shipment, is designed to transport temperature-sensitive medical products. The distribution of vaccines is carried out according to the principles of good distribution practice and quality assurance.
For further information, please contact:
DKSH (Thailand) Limited
Ploycarat Nana
Branding and Communications Manager
Phone 02 301 7325
ploycarat.n@dksh.com