Bangkok schools face jab delay

The inoculation of students at 13 schools in Bangkok has been postponed after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) Department of Health failed to deliver the jabs they need.

Bangpakok 9 International Hospital, the vaccination centre for the students, has sent a letter to the directors of the 13 schools informing them that the inoculation has been put off until further notice.

According to the hospital, the Department of Health informed on Thursday that it cannot deliver the Pfizer vaccine doses for these students on time.

A BMA public health officer declined to comment on the matter yesterday.

The Education Ministry kicked off its vaccination programme early this month to immunise students ahead of the planned school reopening next month.

Supat Champathong, permanent secretary for education, yesterday said the Education Ministry is urging parents to vaccinate their children against Covid-19.

He said vaccines are being exclusively offered to students aged 12–17.

Mr Supat said the Education Ministry expects all students registered for vaccines to get their first shot by the end of next week.

According to the Education Ministry, a total of 3,722,806 students, out of 5,067,173, across the country have registered for the vaccination programme, and more than 820,000, or 22%, have received their jab.

Two million doses of governmentpurchased Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine arrived in Thailand on Sept 29.

Government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisoranakul said at the time it expects 30 million doses to be obtained by the end of this year.