Thailand suggests booster shots due to Omicron outbreak

Thailand – Following a reported increase in cases of the extremely infectious Omicron coronavirus variant during the holiday season, Thailand’s health ministry urged on people to come forward and obtain booster vaccinations.

At a press conference, health official Supakit Sirilak said that the nation has reported 2,062 cases of the Omicron variant so far this year, an increase from the 740 cases reported before the holidays.

Health officials have expressed concern about the possibility of a spike in the number of cases. When people returned home from the holidays and congregated at restaurants for festivities, Thailand issued a warning about the surge of infections.

According to them, 1,105 Omicron infections occurred among foreign immigrants, with the remaining cases occurring among people who had come into touch with arrivals.

As noted in the government statistics, Thailand has vaccinated 64.1 percent of the estimated 72 million people living in the nation with two doses of the vaccine so far, with just 9.8 percent receiving a third booster injection.

Opas said that everyone who had had their second dosage before November would be eligible for the booster shots, which may be obtained at hospitals near their residences.

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A fourth dosage would be administered to medical staff, frontline workers, and high-risk groups three months after the third dose was administered, according to him.

Thai authorities banned its “Test & Go” travel plan, which enabled visitors who had been vaccinated to escape quarantine, last month, citing the spread of Omicron. An official said anyone who had already registered for the program must enter by January 10.

With the exception of the resort island of Phuket, a so-called “sandbox” scheme, which mandates guests to stay in a certain location for seven days while allowing them to travel freely outside of their accommodations, has also been halted in all areas.

According to Thai authorities, 2.2 million infections and 21,750 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded.