In a bid to persuade Thailand’s elderly population, and those with chronic illnesses, to get a Covid booster, health officials have approved using half the usual dose.
Dr. Kiattiphum Wongrajit says the half-dose will be an mRNA vaccine, such as Pfizer, adding that officials are acknowledging the fear of side effects among the elderly.
According to a Nation Thailand report, Kiattiphum says 97% of the Covid deaths reported yesterday were in people in high-risk groups such as the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women. Out of the 70 deaths reported, 47 were over the age of 70, and 52 had only received a single vaccine dose or none at all.
Kiattiphum was quoted as, saying “Studies found that 30% of the senior Covid patients did not have lung inflammation. So, if this group was given better protection, we should be able to reduce the number of deaths….
