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The move came after the Public Health Ministry imported 2 million doses of the vaccine from French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur to boost the immunity of people nationwide.

Public Health Ministry's permanent secretary, Dr Paijit Warachit, said the programme would run until March under which people in the high-risk category will be given access to the vaccine at 1,250 state and private hospitals across the Kingdom. Qualifying pregnant women, meanwhile, can get vaccinated for free at private hospitals.

The high-risk group includes frontline healthcare workers, women three months into their pregnancy, people who weigh more than 100 kilograms as well as the disabled. The category also includes patients aged between 6 months and 64 years old who have chronic conditions such as obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart disease, renal failure, cancer, thalassemia, HIV/Aids or diabetes.

Satita Gaesawang, a 28-year-old Nonthaburi resident who is five-months pregnant, said she agreed to get vaccinated because her doctor said she was part of the high-risk group.

"I was initially afraid but I agreed after the doctor said it was safe," she said.

Health officials suggest that people getting vaccinated should stay in the hospital for 30 minutes to see if they have any adverse reactions. Satita said though she felt a bit of pain at the site of the injection, she had no side effects.

Arunsri Mongkolsawachai, 62, said she had opted for the vaccine because she was suffering from an allergy and wanted to ensure that she didn't infect anybody else.

"I didn't want to transmit the infection to my grandchildren," she said, adding that she was not afraid of side effects because she had been vaccinated against other diseases before.

"I don't think this vaccine will affect my health," she said.

Sanan Untalee, a 73-year-old Nonthaburi resident also considered to be in the high-risk group, went to Phra Nang Klao hospital along with seven of his friends to get vaccinated. He said he believed the vaccine would help boost his immunity and that he was not afraid of any adverse effects.

Phra Nang Klao Hospital's director general Dr Somchai Thepchareon-nirand said about 50 patients had been vaccinated at the facility yesterday. He also said that all patients were informed about the side effects of the vaccine and urged to undergo a health check up before getting vaccinated. They were also made to sign a consent form.