Thailand to try alternative COVID-19 vaccination method

Doctors in Thailand have been given the go-ahead to start giving COVID-19 vaccine booster shots under the skin, rather than injecting them into muscles, in an effort to strengthen immunity and stretch vaccine supplies. ​
Thailand to try alternative COVID-19 vaccination method ảnh 1Illustrative image (Source: Xinhua/VNA)
Bangkok (VNA) - Doctors in Thailandhave been given the go-ahead to start giving COVID-19 vaccine booster shotsunder the skin, rather than injecting them into muscles, in an effort tostrengthen immunity and stretch vaccine supplies.

Minister of Health Anutin Charnvirakul said onSeptember 20 that the method, which doctors began exploring last month, couldbe used at the discretion of medical professionals, providing it was supportedby evidence.

Chalermpong Sukonthaphon, Director of the VachiraHospital in Phuket, said his hospital had been given the green light to use thetechnique since September 17, as trials had showed it triggered a similarimmune response to the regular method.

"One vaccine dose can be used for fiveintradermal injections," Chalermpong told Reuters.

So far, only 21 percent of the estimated 72 millionpeople living in the country have been fully vaccinated.

The country has recorded more than 1.4 millionCOVID-19 cases, with 15,000 fatalities./.
VNA

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