COVID-19 vaccination in Thailand

In November 2020, the authorities ordered 26 million doses of vaccine from AstraZeneca, which reported 70% overall efficacy.[3] It requires 2 doses of vaccine per person, so the quantity ordered would only cover 13 million people.[4] Prayut cabinet later approved budget for ordering 35 million additional doses in January 2021.[5] Siam Bioscience, a company owned by King Vajiralongkorn, will received technological transfer for co-investment.[6] The authorities also imported 2 million doses of vaccine from Sinovac, a Chinese company which Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand invested in,[7] during February to April 2021.[8]

Likewise, the Thai government also stepped up its attempt to produce its homegrown vaccines amidst criticism,[9] with "ChulaCov19" and set to begin trials in May 2021.[10] Phase I testing of the NDV-HXP-S vaccine began at Mahidol University in March 2021.[11][12]

In July 2021, the National Vaccine Institute apologized for slow vaccine deployment.[13] Meanwhile, the government's prior commitment to secure 61 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine became doubted after a leaked document showed that the company would deliver no more than 60 percent of the number planned per month.[14] A virology advisor also endorsed an untested plan to mix AstraZeneca and Sinovac vaccines.[15] There was already a report of death from the practice, but health professionals said they have to rule out other causes first.[16]

Vaccination procedures used in Thailand.

First Dose	Second Dose	Third Dose	Fourth Dose	Dose Interval	Status	Note
CoronaVac	CoronaVac	N/A	N/A	2–4 weeks[38]	Suspended	Suspended on 12 July 2021 due to inefficient immunization againist Delta variant.[39]
Oxford–AstraZeneca	Oxford–AstraZeneca	N/A	N/A	10–12 weeks (can be extended to 16 if necessary)	Suspended	Suspended on 11 September 2021 due to long dose interval process which takes time for creating immunization.[40]
Sinopharm BIBP	Sinopharm BIBP	N/A	N/A	3–4 weeks	Public use	Only available at selected hospitals and vaccination centres affiliated with Chulabhorn Royal Academy.
CoronaVac	Oxford–AstraZeneca	N/A	N/A	3–4 weeks	Public use	Currently primary vaccination formula for the country,[41] planned to suspend after the current supply of Sinovac vaccines runs out.[42]
CoronaVac	Pfizer–BioNTech	N/A	N/A	3–4 weeks	Public use	Planned to suspend after the current supply of Sinovac vaccines runs out.[42]
Oxford–AstraZeneca	Pfizer–BioNTech	N/A	N/A	4–12 weeks	Public use	Future primary vaccination formula after ther current supply of Sinovac vaccines runs out[41]
CoronaVac	CoronaVac	Oxford–AstraZeneca	N/A	2–4 weeks (2nd) 8 weeks or more (3rd)	Public use	For people who had completed two Sinovac doses before the suspension of the procedures. They will be allowed to receive a third dose of Oxford–AstraZeneca start from 24 September 2021.[43]
Moderna	Moderna	N/A	N/A	4 weeks	Public use	Moderna vaccine available only at hospital that made a reservation for the vaccine with Government Pharmaceutical Organization or Chulabhorn Royal Academy. Some procedures may not be available at some hospitals, depending on the policy of each hospital and the health condition of people who seek vaccination.[44][45][46] For hospital that made a reservation with Chulabhorn Royal Academy, the Moderna vaccine will be available as booster shot only with dose amount of 50 μg instead of Moderna's guideline of 100 μg per dose.
CoronaVac	Moderna	N/A	N/A	< 4 weeks	Public use
Sinopharm BIBP	Moderna	N/A	N/A	< 4 weeks	Public use
Oxford–AstraZeneca	Moderna	N/A	N/A	4–12 weeks	Public use
Pfizer–BioNTech	Moderna	N/A	N/A	4 weeks	Public use
CoronaVac	Moderna	Moderna	N/A	> 4 weeks (2nd) 4 weeks (3rd)	Public use
Sinopharm BIBP	Moderna	Moderna	N/A	> 4 weeks (2nd) 4 weeks (3rd)	Public use
CoronaVac	CoronaVac	Moderna	N/A	2–4 weeks (2nd) 4–24 weeks (3rd)	Public use
Sinopharm BIBP	Sinopharm BIBP	Moderna	N/A	3–4 weeks (2nd) 4–24 weeks (3rd)	Public use
CoronaVac	Oxford–AstraZeneca	Moderna	N/A	3–4 weeks (2nd) 12–24 weeks (3rd)	Public use
Oxford–AstraZeneca	Oxford–AstraZeneca	Moderna	N/A	10–16 weeks (2nd) 12–24 weeks (3rd)	Public use
CoronaVac	CoronaVac	Moderna	Moderna	2–4 weeks (2nd) > 24 weeks (3rd) 4 weeks (4th)	Public use
Sinopharm BIBP	Sinopharm BIBP	Moderna	Moderna	3–4 weeks (2nd) > 24 weeks (3rd) 4 weeks (4th)	Public use
CoronaVac	CoronaVac	Sinopharm BIBP	Moderna	2–4 weeks (2nd) 12–24 weeks (3rd) 12–24 weeks (4th)	Public use
Janssen	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Limited use	Limited to French nationals living in Thailand (as of current, the Janssen vaccine is only provided by the French Embassy in Thailand)
Pfizer–BioNTech	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Limited use	Limited to Healthy male students aged 12–18 without underlying disease[47]
Pfizer–BioNTech	Pfizer–BioNTech	N/A	N/A	3 weeks	Limited use	Limited to[48][49] COVID-19 frontline workers Male students aged 12–18 with underlying disease and all-female students aged 12–18 High-risk people Foreigners living in Thailand People who have to travel abroad, where vaccination with two doses of Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine before entering the destination country is mandatory
Oxford–AstraZeneca	Oxford–AstraZeneca	Pfizer–BioNTech	N/A	10–16 weeks (2nd) 24 weeks (3rd)	Limited use	Limited to High-risk people[50]
Sinopharm BIBP	Oxford–AstraZeneca	N/A	N/A	Use the same interval guideline from vaccine in previous dose if there is a change in manufacturer	Limited use	Limited to COVID-19 frontline workers who had received one Sinovac/Sinopharm dose before Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine had arrived in Thailand. The second dose will be changed to Pfizer–BioNTech immediately.[48] COVID-19 frontline workers who had completed two Sinovac/Sinopharm doses before. They will be allowed to receive a third dose of Oxford–AstraZeneca or Pfizer–BioNTech.[48][51] Typical people (non-frontline workers) who have had one or two Sinopharm doses can take the next dose of Oxford–AstraZeneca or Pfizer–BioNTech, but they must seek permission from health officials at the vaccination centre on an individual basis.[52]
Sinopharm BIBP	Pfizer–BioNTech	N/A	N/A		Limited use
Sinopharm BIBP	Sinopharm BIBP	Oxford–AstraZeneca	N/A		Limited use
CoronaVac	CoronaVac	Pfizer–BioNTech	N/A		Limited use
Sinopharm BIBP	Sinopharm BIBP	Pfizer–BioNTech	N/A		Limited use
Any vaccine	Any vaccine different from first dose	Any vaccine different from first dose	N/A		Limited use	Special procedures for people who have to travel abroad, where a complete vaccination is mandatory but the vaccine they had taken before is not recognised in the destination country. They will be allowed to receive two more doses of another vaccine that meet the requirement.[53]
Any vaccine	Any vaccine	Any vaccine different from first two dose	Any vaccine different from first two dose		Limited use
Any vaccine	Any vaccine	Sinopharm BIBP	N/A	12–24 weeks (3rd)	Planned	Sinopharm vaccine available only at selected hospitals and vaccination centres affiliated with Chulabhorn Royal Academy.[54]