The Alpha variant has been detected in almost 90 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Thailand since April. — AFP file pic
BANGKOK (June 29): Studies in Thailand show two doses of the Chinese Sinovac vaccine for COVID-19 are 71 and 91 per cent effective in reducing infection involving the Alpha variant, which was first identified in England.
The findings were presented today by Thailand’s National Communicable Disease Committee and the National Vaccine Committee.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ deputy spokesman Natapanu Nopakun said the findings is based on research conducted among high-risk groups in Phuket, Samut Sakhon and Chiang Rai including public health workers in April and May.
“The results also showed the vaccine was effective in lowering the infections among public health workers by 70.9 per cent,” he said at COVID-19 daily briefing here today.
The Alpha variant has been detected in almost 90 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Thailand since April.
Meanwhile, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said Japan is to donate 1.05 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Thailand, which is scheduled to arrive in early July.
“It is to enhance Thailand’s public health,” she said at a press conference here today.
Over the last 24 hours Thailand recorded 4,662 new COVID-19 cases and 36 deaths, bringing the total infections in the kingdom to 254,515 and 1,970 fatalities to date.
Of the 4,662 new cases, 4,634 were local transmission and 28 imported cases including eight Thais returning home from Cambodia by crossing the border illegally.
The new fatalities involved 35 Thais and one New Zealander aged between 41 and 93 years old
Bangkok topped the list with the highest number of cases at 1,692 and followed by Samut Prakan (647), Samut Sakhon (293), Nonthaburi (185), Songkhala (182), Pattani (143) and Yala (89) and the rest scattered across the kingdom. – Bernama