Health officials in Thailand are offering a new round of COVID-19 booster shots in response to a rise in new cases following the Songkran holidays. These boosters are now available as a single jab for the entire year and can be administered using any COVID-19 vaccine that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. People who are encouraged to get the annual boosters include the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, children under 5 years old, and individuals who work in crowded conditions or interact with many people, including medical and public health workers.
The National Communicable Disease Committee recommends that the COVID-19 vaccine can be given at the same time as a flu shot by administering each vaccine in different arms. This recommendation is made in preparation for the upcoming rainy season, which is known as the flu season in Thailand. If the two vaccines are administered on different dates, there is no need to delay a subsequent shot by a specific number of days.
The Ministry of Public Health reported a total of 1,811 new COVID-19 cases from 23-29 April 2023, with an increase in patients developing lung infections, requiring manual ventilation, and deaths. The rise in new cases prompted health officials to encourage people to get their annual boosters as soon as possible, with vaccines now available at many hospitals and clinics throughout the country.
