Illustrative image (Photo: https://asia.nikkei.com/) According to a spokesperson of the Thai government, the new batch of vaccinewill arrive in Thailand simultaneously with 26 million doses of AstraZenecavaccine and 2 million doses of Sinovac vaccine of China ordered previously.
Thailand's Ministry of Health is still negotiating to buy more vaccines fromother manufacturers as the government prepares to open registration for vaccinationsfor people.
The country officially started its COVID-19 vaccination programme on February28.
Thailand reported 42 new COVID-19 cases and one more death on March 2, liftingthe total of infections and fatalities to 26,073 and 84, respectively.
Thai Minister of Tourism Pipat Ratchakitprakarn has asked the Ministry ofHealth to approve the implementation of a vaccine passport system to kick-startthe country's tourism industry this year.
Pipat said on March 1 that the Thai government iswaiting for the World Health Organization (WHO) to announce the vaccinepassport before enacting this measure.
On March 2, Malaysia granted conditional approval forthe use of COVID-19 vaccines made by UKfirm AstraZeneca andChina’s Sinovac, just days after the Southeast Asian nation launched its nationwideCOVID-19 vaccination programme.
Malaysia began its COVID-19 vaccination rollout onFebruary 24 using the vaccine developed by US drug-maker Pfizer and Germanpartner BioNTech, as it has tried to rein in a spike in infections and helprevive its economy that recorded its worst slump in more than two decades lastyear.
Malaysia aims to vaccinate at least 80 percent of its population ofabout 32 million by February next year. Last month, the government said it hadsecured 66.7 million doses, enough to cover its population./.
VNA
