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A leaked memo has shown that the vaccine Sinovac does not provide sufficient protection

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The medical society calls on the Thai government to give mRNA vaccines as a booster injection to frontline medical workers after a leaked official document recommended the third injection for health personnel over concerns it could raise fears that the Sinovac vaccine would not provide effective protection.

The leaked memo comes from a June 30 meeting between an academic committee on infectious disease control, an immunization subcommittee and a working academic panel on vaccine management to discuss the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine.

About 1.5 million doses of Pfizer are expected to arrive this month, followed by 20 million in the fourth quarter.

According to the leaked document, people aged 12-18; the elderly, people with chronic diseases and pregnant women; and primary care providers in outbreak areas have been given priority for the first 1.5 million doses, including Bangkok and surrounding provinces.

However, a comment in the meeting notes sparked outrage, as one attendee opposed the use of the Pfizer vaccine as the third dose for medical personnel already immunized with the Sinovac vaccines.

“In the current situation, if the vaccine is given to the third group, it is an admission that Sinovac cannot provide protection and it will make it more difficult to find an excuse,” the document said.

Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday downplayed the issue and said it was just one opinion and not a government policy.

“It will be considered by the Commission for the Control of Communicable Diseases and the Vaccination Commission. We don’t know how the debate will go,” he said.

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