People who want to have a third or fourth Covid-19 shot at the vaccination centre at Bang Sue Grand Station can choose to have a lighter-dose intradermal injection instead, as the centre adds more options for booster shots.
It has arranged intramuscular injections with either 15mcg or 30mcg of vaccine per dose, and intradermal injections with a 10mcg/dose.
Administering half a dose under the skin has been found to maintain a high level of efficacy while causing fewer side effects, according to Dr Mingkwan Wichaidit, director of the Institute of Dermatology.
However, recipients may develop skin irritation for a few days before they recover, she noted.
These results have all been confirmed by domestic and overseas studies, Dr Mingkwan said.
Dr Mingkwan, who supervises the vaccination centre, said it began administering fourth shots on Tuesday for people who pre-booked online. Pfizer and AstraZeneca shots are available, she said.
Covid-free classes: A saliva sample is taken from a young student before class commences at Intarumpun Anusorn School in Samut Prakan. The school has returned to on-site teaching in a Covid-free setting. The students sit apart and have their temperatures taken in the afternoon. (Photo: Somchai Poomlard)
Director-general of the Department of Disease Control, Opas Karnkawinpong, said once Sinovac is approved for children aged 3-17, shots will be administered immediately.
Sinovac has a six-month shelf life and the stockpile in Thailand has not expired, he said.
Thailand has at least 1.5 million doses left, including those donated by China.
The department chief said he believed the government would not have to buy more Sinovac shots to vaccinate this young age demographic.
Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said 150 children aged 5-11 with underlying conditions, who received the vaccine on Monday, had not experienced any undesirable symptoms, save for a few reports of mild allergic reactions.
The Education Ministry is arranging shots for young students.
