National Vaccine Institute (NVI), in collaboration with Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Interior, supports Department of Local Administration (DLA) to promote immunization in their respective areas through the procurement of essential vaccines for public. This initiative has received technical support and has reached the initial stage of developing an influenza vaccine to be provided in the Pathum Thani area and other local districts moving forward.
Dr. Nakorn Premsri, Director of National Vaccine Institute, stated, “National Vaccine Institute is committed to driving national vaccine provision in collaboration with our networks. We aim to enhance security and self-reliance in vaccination services, ensuring that residents in all areas have convenient and equitable access to high-quality vaccines. This mission is crucial for NVI and aligns with the National Vaccine Security Policy and Strategy for 2023-2027.”
Following the resolutions issued on November 10, 2023, the policy to promote vaccine procurement by Department of Local Administration was approved, and National Vaccine Institute was tasked to collaborate with Department of Disease Control to implement this policy.
NVI has been executing these tasks in accordance with the directives from Ministry of Public Health and Ministry of Interior, transferring the mission of health promotion and disease prevention, rehabilitation, and basic medical treatment from the Chaloem Phrakiat 60th Anniversary Nawaminthrachini Health Station and Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals to the Provincial Administrative Organization.
The institute is actively providing a technical support in collaboration with Department of Disease Control, offering a list of significant and essential vaccines along with price references under the supervision of National Vaccine Committee to enable local administrations to advance their operations.
In this context, a vaccine procurement manual and operational guidelines have been prepared for local administrative organizations to initiate an influenza vaccine service as a pilot project. Discussions are ongoing with relevant agencies, including Department of Local Administration, Provincial Administrative Organization association of Thailand, Pathum Thani Provincial Public Health Office, Department of Disease Control,
Executive Committee of National Vaccine Institute, and other notable networks to continue progress towards the goals set for starting operations in 2024.
The vaccine provision for four virus variants of influenza has successfully launched a pilot service targeting people in Pathum Thani province since April 1, 2024. This marks a positive start for local government organisations to participate in public immunization initiatives. National Vaccine Institute is recognised as a key player in transforming vaccine initiatives into reality, with successful outcomes expected to lead to the expansion of services to other provinces in the future.
