Covid to be downgraded from Oct 1

3m Pfizer doses intended for young kids en route

Health professionals wait for Covid-19 vaccine recipients at the Bang Sue Grand Station in Bangkok last month. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)
Health professionals wait for Covid-19 shot recipients at the Boom Sue Grand Station in Bangkok final month. (Photo: Apichart Jinakul)

The government is ready to announce the downgrade of Covid-19 from a harmful communicable disease to 1 that is “communicable under surveillance” from April 1, said Open public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Mr Anutin was speaking on Wednesday after meeting senior Public Health Ministry officials and mentioned the Covid-19 scenario now appears ideal for regrading.

The number of patients who need oxygen supplies acquired dropped to 300 as of Wednesday  while most fatalities involve individuals with underlying health conditions, this individual said.

Mr Anutin said the government is still covering the expenses of patients who have mild plus severe symptoms.

Hospitals are ready to receive those from vulnerable groups whilst Long Acting Antibody (LAAB) doses are actually distributed to private hospitals and medical centres nationwide for seniors and people with root conditions, especially kidney patients.

“I would like to emphasise that those who have not really yet received booster shots should do so to alleviate the severity of their symptoms. Right now vaccines in Thailand are available for people of age groups, ” mentioned Mr Anutin. Whenever asked about face masks, he said they may not be mandatory but are usually recommended in crowded places.

Meanwhile, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general from the Department of Illness Control, has agreed upon a contract with Deborah Seifert, country supervisor of Pfizer Thailand, to purchase three million doses of Pfizer for children outdated between six months plus five years. Mr Anutin said the business will deliver the initial few batches next month.

Kulkanya Chokephaibulkit, professor of Paediatric Infectious Diseases in the Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital Mahidol University, said the vaccines can also protect young children from Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome within Children (MIS-C).

MIS-C is one of the conditions associated with Covid-19. It has been detected in a single of 10, 500 child patients typically. Children can develop MIS-C two to 6 weeks after recovering from Covid-19, with symptoms like high fever, severe diarrhoea and irritation of the organs.