Medical workers test nasal swab samples at a free Covid-19 coronavirus rapid antigen testing site in a car park in Bangkok on Tuesday. AFP
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is readying medical professionals to provide Covid-19 vaccine to children aged 5-11 at their schools in the provinces, while those over 12 years old can now get the jab at Thai-Japanese Bangkok Youth Centre.
“We will provide vaccination under a school-based system for children aged 5-11 in Bangkok areas soon,” said Panrudee Manophaiboon, director of BMA Health Office on January 11. “We have compiled the list of all children qualified to get the jab who already provided their parents’ consent, and are allocating medical professionals to administer the jabs at their schools.”
“As for children aged over 12 years in the Bangkok area, they can get a Covid jab at Kilawes 2 Building in the Bangkok Youth Centre (Thai - Japanese) in Din Daeng district,” she added. “The vaccination centre there can provide jabs to around 2,000 people a day. Recipients can either walk-in or pre-register online via QueQ application.”
The BMA Health Office will also distribute printed media to schools in the province detailing how-to and suggestions to prepare children before and after getting Covid-19 vaccine. The office has urged all vaccine recipients to register on Mor Phrom application which tracks vaccination history and side effects for future reference.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has also urged all government and private hospitals to accept children sickened with Covid-19.
Prayut was deeply concerned over reports of hospitals denying treatment to infected children, said a government spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul on January 10.
“The premier asked the Public Health Ministry to implement a system to ensure that children infected with Covid-19 receive treatment as soon as possible as they may have low immunity to the virus,” she said.
Prayut also urged Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health to provide guidelines on treating Covid-positive kids for hospitals nationwide.
Authorities advised parents to get vaccinated, avoid taking children to crowded places and keep monitoring their symptoms.
Children with fever, cough, runny nose or contact with Covid-19 cases should receive an antigen [ATK] test and a second test 3-4 days later.
Parents of children who test positive should contact their local hospitals for help, while parents living in Bangkok and surrounding areas can contact Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health or the National Health Security Office hotline on 1330, added the spokeswoman.
Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reported on the morning of January 12 that in the past 24 hours there were 7,681 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 12 of whom have been found in prisons.
The death toll increased by 22, while 3,350 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.
Cumulative cases in the country since January 1 are at 68,855 with 21,872 deaths.
THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
