Late Pfizer jabs blamed on scheduling mishap

Late Pfizer jabs blamed on scheduling mishap

Miscommunication to blame, not shortages, says health official

About 20,000 students aged 12-18 are vaccinated on Friday by 1,200 medical workers at Halls 5-6 of Impact Muang Thong Thani exhibition centre in Nonthaburi. A total of 68,000 students will be inoculated during the three-day programme ending Sunday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)
About 20,000 students aged 12-18 are vaccinated on Friday by 1,200 medical workers at Halls 5-6 of Impact Muang Thong Thani exhibition centre in Nonthaburi. A total of 68,000 students will be inoculated during the three-day programme ending Sunday. (Photo by Chanat Katanyu)

The Department of Disease Control clarified on Saturday why Pfizer jabs for students at 13 schools in Bangkok have been delayed, explaining that it was due to miscommunication.

Director-general Opas Karnkawinpong said their late arrival was not because of a supply shortage, but a lack of coordination in terms of scheduling.

He was responding to reports that City Hall had failed to deliver the jabs on time.

The DDC chief said the students were originally scheduled to receive their shots on Friday, the same day the vaccine arrived at the department. However due to a communication mix-up, the vaccines would not be ready for distribution until Monday, forcing their appointments to be rescheduled, he added.

He also noted there was a sufficient supply of Pfizer shots for students aged 12-17 and said they should receive their first jab by the time their schools reopen next month.

The department has received three batches of Pfizer vaccine totalling five million doses, enough to cover its target group.

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