Well over a million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been given to university staff and students, in an almost complete vaccination effort aimed at preparing them for the new school term, the Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Ministry said.
Dr Sirirerk Songwilai, permanent secretary of the ministry, said the vaccination programme was carried out at the ministry's 23 vaccination centres nationwide as well as more than a 100 other vaccination centres. In Bangkok and surrounding provinces, a total of 482,655 people had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and a total of 280,864 have received both doses of the vaccine as of Friday.
Meanwhile, in the other provinces, a total of 133,847 people have received their first shot, while 103,400 people have received both shots.
"This number is close to 100% in vaccination coverage for staff and students and also extends to many people living in communities near universities," he said.
"For instance, more than 100,000 people in the communities close to Kasetsart University's Bang Khen campus have received the vaccines, while around 50,000 people near King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang have also been given their shots as well." All these universities now were ready to resume onsite teaching and learning from Nov 1.