The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on March 13 started vaccinating those at high risk of contracting Covid-19 from working close to patients.

The inoculation will continue until April 7 with a target of administering 2,840 shots, Bangkok governor Police General Aswin Kwanmuang said on March 13.

“The high risk group is classified our second target group, and so far we have vaccinated 477 persons, or 16.8 per cent of the target,” he said.

Meanwhile, the first group, consisting of 3,520 medical professionals who have direct contact with patients, had been given vaccine since last week through 13 private hospitals, three public hospitals and seven public health service centres in Bang Khun Thian, Bang Bon, Nong Khaem, Bang Khae, Phasi Charoen and Jomthong districts.

The last group to be given vaccine will be those who have chronic diseases and are therefore more vulnerable if they contract Covid-19.

“We set the target for this group at 26,832 persons, who will start being inoculated from March 15 onwards,” said Aswin.

The BMA also revealed that so far 3,997 people in Bangkok had been injected with the Covid-19 vaccine, while 402 persons have reported side-effects, or 10.06 per cent.

The BMA had been allotted 66,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine by the government, and aims to complete the target of 33,000 persons vaccinated as soon as possible.

THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK