BANGKOK, March 12, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Thailand has delayed its roll-out of
the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, a health official said Friday, after several
European nations suspended their programmes over blood clot fears.
The kingdom was scheduled to start the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine roll-out
on Friday, with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha expected to get the first
jab.
“Vaccine injection for Thais must be safe, we do not have to be in a
hurry,” said Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, an advisor for the country’s Covid-19
vaccine committee, in a press conference.
“Though the quality of AstraZeneca is good, some countries have asked for a
delay. We will delay (as well).”
The move comes after Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspended the use of the
Oxford/AstraZeneca jab the day before.
Austria on Sunday stopped using doses from one batch after a 49-year-old
nurse died of “severe blood coagulation problems” days after receiving an
anti-Covid shot.
However, there is still no established link between the vaccine and side
effects of blood clots, and Denmark stressed that its move was merely
precautionary as they examine the risks more closely.
“We are waiting for Denmark and Austria to make a conclusion,” said
virologist Yong Poovarawan.
“We are delaying to let others prove (the side effects) of whether or not
it is because of the vaccine or if it is only on that specific batch,” he
said, adding that the batch Thailand has received was manufactured in a
factory in Asia.
Thailand appears to have escaped the brunt of the coronavirus, registering
26,000 cases and 85 deaths.
It had already rolled out its vaccination campaign last month with the
Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine, and health workers were the first to receive
the injections on February 28.