No hope for jab fiasco

The government’s Covid-19 vaccination programme is staggeringly inept. There are a few obvious things that should be rectified immediately.

Without the correct target, there’s no hope. To achieve herd immunity, we need about 70-75% of the population inoculated, which means at least 100 million doses (plus extra boosters), not 60 million, and the target date must be now, not the end of 2021.

The healthcare system of Thailand is one of the most pervasive in the world. The hospitals supported by the “Anamai” network (public local health stations in every village nationwide) have the ability to provide basic healthcare including vaccine shots.

Putting a vaccine in people’s arms is not the problem. Nor is distribution a reason to delay. I can buy a frozen ice cream in every corner shop in Thailand, so why can’t they distribute a chilled vaccine? Can’t deliver from overseas? How about utilising the fleet of grounded Thai Airways jets?

The worst thing is the lack of action. It is OK in normal times that every vaccine producer must go through a normal bureaucratic process in which the government takes a considerable time to check on its merits. But it is definitely not OK under such an emergency situation.

Why not follow the qualified authorities in the USA, UK, Japan or Europe and proactively grant emergency approval to as many vaccines as others have? No more excuses. Take responsibility and action now.

ALAN MEHEW