The army is exploring ways to procure Covid-19 vaccine supplies for its personnel, especially frontline security forces in border areas and those deployed near outbreak hotpspots, army chief Gen Narongphan Jitkaewtae said yesterday.
He was responding to questions raised over the army's policy on Covid-19 inoculation for its personnel.
The army still has to stick to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's (CCSA) Covid-19 vaccine distribution policy, he said, although he added that reassurances have been given that when the second batch of vaccines arrives, everyone will be vaccinated, said Gen Narongphan.
So far, all 130 members of the Naresuan task force stationed in the Thai-Myanmar areas have had their first round of shots, while other border security forces are still waiting, he said.
As for the security situation at the Thai-Myanmar border, Gen Narongphan said, the army had added an additional company of soldiers to the Naresuan 1 task force in response to concerns raised by Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Recently, about 40 migrants were detained crossing the border via Phetchaburi and four later tested positive for Covid-19.
"This is terrifying and we don't what to see any new wave of Covid-19 erupt ever again as happened in Samut Sakhon," the army chief said.