A SUBCOMMITTEE at the Public Health Ministry is considering proposing to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) that people unvaccinated against Covid-19 be barred from public places, Siam Rath newspaper said today (Nov. 19).
Dr. Sophon Mekthon, assistant to the Public Health Minister, said the subcommittee on Covid-19 vaccination which he chairs would be discussing details of this proposal now that the country is getting close to the goal of administering 100 million doses of Covid vaccines within this month as 85 million jabs have already been given.
.Discussions are also being held on offering perks to those who get vaccinated such as asking the Transport Ministry to offer them a 20 percent fare discount.
Should the private sector cooperate then there could be lucky draws to give away fans or other items to those who get vaccinated but this step is not compulsory and depends on each province how it chooses to organise it.
Meanwhile CCSA said as of yesterday a total of 86,071,507 doses of Covid vaccines have been administered to people in 77 provinces with 45,700,036, or 63.4% of the population, having received their first jab; 37,527,295, or 52.1% of the population, their second; and 2,844,176,or 3.9%, their third.
However a breakdown shows that 26 provinces lag behind the others as less than 50% of their residents have been vaccinated, with their totals being in the range of 40-49%. These provinces are Narathiwat, Pattani, Phrae, Mae Hong Son, Phitsanulok, Kamphaeng Phet, Chainat, Nakhon Nayok, Lop Buri, Ang Thong, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Suphan Buri, Sa Kaeo, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Bueng Kan. Sakon Nakhon, Nong Bua Lamphu, Chaiyaphum, Surin, Yasothon, Sisaket and Ubon Ratchathani.
At the same time 50-69% of the residents in 40 provinces have received their first jab with over 70% having done so in 11 of them namely Pathum Thani, Samut Sakhon, Songkhla, Chachoengsao, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chonburi, Samut Prakan, Phang Nga, Phuket and Ranong.
CAPTIONS:
Top: A medical graphic. Photo: NNT
Home Page: Coronavirus. Photo: Getty images and published by BBC