The Public Health Ministry has prepared 2.1 million doses of a new vaccine cocktail against three flu viruses -A/H3N2, B. and 2009 A/H1N1 virus.
The vaccine will be provided to six million people at risk of developing severe symptoms, including women more than seven-months pregnant, people weighing over 100 kilograms, disabled people with neurological conditions, patients with chronic diseases, people aged over 65 and children from six months to two years of age. Medical workers will also be immunised.
Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisith said yesterday that state hospitals across country will be administering the vaccine from July 1-October 31 under a project with the World Health Organisation.
The National Health Security Office has supported the project with Bt500 million to purchase the cocktail vaccine from French drugmaker Sanofi-Pasteur.
People who have already been vaccinated for the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus also can get an injection from a hospital after one month.
About 1.5 million doses of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine had been provided to 78 per cent of people at high risk. Over 150,000 doses remain unused and are being stored at the Disease Control Department.
Hospitals that need the 2009 H1N1 vaccine to use on people can ask the ministry for a contribution.
A recent report from the ministry shows that the virus has infected 6,679 people and killed three of them this year. About two to three people come down with the 2009 flu per week. No fatality has been reported from the 2009 flu during the past two weeks, he added.