The authorities are concerned about the surge in anti-vaccination TikTok clips, which is also sparking worries among parents and students about the side effects of Pfizer shots.
Deputy government spokesperson Ratchada Dhnadirek said on Saturday that 71% or 3.8 million of Thailand’s five million students in the 12-18 age range had registered for a Covid-19 jab.
As of Thursday, 150,190 students had received their first Pfizer shot and 1,825 their second.
As for the TikTok clips released by anti-vaxxers, Ratchada said the Pfizer vaccine was safe and efficient.
The vaccine has also received a stamp of approval from the World Health Organisation (WHO), both the US and Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Public Health Ministry, she said.
She added that though a few Pfizer recipients have developed some rare symptoms after the jab, the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety (GACVS) has said that the protection an mRNA jab can provide far outweighs the risk of developing side effects.
The authorities are also looking into the option of conducting random tests among students every two weeks. — The Nation/ANN
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
