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https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014857

Several locally produced Covid-19 vaccines should be registered with the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) within this year and go into mass production next year.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) reported that trials into four locally made vaccines have made a great deal of progress.

They are Chula-Cov19 mRNA vaccine developed by Chulalongkorn University’s Vaccine Research Centre, HXP-GPOVac inactivated chimeric vaccine developed jointly by the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) and Mahidol University, Baiya SARS-Cov-2-Vax protein subunit vaccine jointly by Baiya Phytopharm and Chulalongkorn University, and the Covigen needle-free plasmid-DNA vaccine by Bionet-Asia Co Ltd.

Chula-Cov19, now undergoing a second human trial, is set to register with the FDA early next year and go into mass production soon after. The Thai government has allocated 2.7 billion baht for its research.

HXP-GPOVac, which is also undergoing a second human trial, should be registered within the last quarter of this year. Its production, initially targeted at up to 20 million doses annually, is likely to start next year, the CCSA said.

The government allocated 445 million baht for this vaccine’s development.

The Baiya SARS-Cov2-Vax, currently under its first human trial, should be registered this year and start production soon after. The initial aim is to roll out 60 million doses yearly. This vaccine was also allocated 445 million baht by the Thai government.

Covigen, a DNA-based vaccine that penetrates the skin via a needle-free injector, is undergoing its first human trial and should be registered within this year. This vaccine is being developed under a state subsidy of 650 million baht.

Published : April 23, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014855

The health authorities are well prepared to take care of Covid-19 patients even if new infections surge after the long Songkran break, the public health minister announced on Saturday.

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who also doubles as deputy prime minister, said hospitals under the Public Health Ministry have enough beds, medication and personnel to deal with a potential outbreak.

The number of new Covid cases has been stable at slightly over 20,000 per day, but the ministry will closely monitor the situation for two weeks after Songkran wrapped last Sunday, Anutin added.

“The Public Health Ministry is ready to take care of new Covid-19 patients, most of whom are in the ‘green group’ with mild symptoms,” he said.

For patients with severe symptoms, Anutin said his ministry has the policy of “being sufficient in three areas”, namely hospital beds, medicines and medical personnel.

Since patients with mild symptoms are encouraged to isolate themselves at home, hospital bed occupancy is about 30 per cent on average.

There are also sufficient supplies of herbal and anti-viral medicines, including Fah Talai Jone (green chiretta), Favipiravir, Remdesivir, Molnupiravir and Paxlovid, Anutin said.

“Not every patient requires anti-viral medicines. Some can recover without taking any. Prescribing them depends on each doctor,” he said.

The ministry also has plenty of doctors and nurses to take care of patients, Anutin said.

In addition, the ministry is also campaigning for people in high-risk groups – those aged 60 and over and with chronic diseases – to get their Covid-19 vaccines as well as booster shots.

Published : April 23, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014853

A senior police officer tasked with tackling the problem of overpriced lottery tickets has vowed to take legal action against all violators “without exception”.

Assistant National Police chief Pol Lt-General Surachate Hakparn said on Saturday that investigators need time to collect evidence and build a case against violators, who will be dealt with “fairly and transparently”.

He said action will be taken against all online platforms selling lottery tickets at prices higher than legal limits.

Violators will be fined as per their offence, he added.

“There will be no preferential treatment.”

A major online platform, whose office was recently raided by police on suspicion of selling overpriced lottery tickets, announced on Saturday morning that it will be selling lottery tickets at 95 baht each, instead of 80 baht due to “high cost”.

Surachate said on Saturday that police investigators appeared to be too slow in some cases because many of the suspect platforms involved more than 30,000 downline participants in their complex multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme.

“In one case, more than 1,700 witnesses were questioned. Some platforms have complex structures and police need to examine them carefully,” he said.

In March, police raided the offices of three major online lottery vendors as part of a crackdown on lottery-ticket overpricing.

Published : April 23, 2022

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014852

Bus fares will not be increased once the government stops subsidising diesel and removes the 30-baht per litre price cap from May 1, the Department of Land Transport said.

“The department will find other measures to help reduce the operational costs to ensure public transport operators can continue providing services after next month,” department director-general Jirut Wisanjit said on Friday.

He added that so far no bus operators have contacted the department to discuss the lifting of the 30-baht price cap on diesel. “Operators can file an appeal to adjust their fares at the Central Land Transport Control Committee. However, they should wait until the price of diesel stabilises to submit details of the operational cost,” he said.

“Most importantly, factors that warrant raising public transport fares could come from many aspects apart from the cost of fuel,” he added.

Bus companies running regular public transport routes cannot raise their fares without approval from the Central Land Transport Control Committee. Violators can face up to 50,000 baht in fines and have their permits revoked. However, operators of non-regular routes and tour buses can adjust their fares based on market mechanisms, provided the fare is agreed upon by passengers first.

Published : April 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014851

Hospitals are making special preparations for the start of the school year next month, as data shows more than half of children killed by Covid-19 are under five years old.

The Omicron variant has caused the number of childhood Covid-19 infections to surge, government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said on Saturday.

In January, more than half of children who died from Covid-19 were under five years old – too young to be vaccinated. The government is urging parents to get vaccinated while instructing public hospitals to launch a special treatment system for children infected after the school year starts.

Hospitals have been ordered to arrange beds, medical personnel, and a transfer system in case of a rapid rise in the number of severely ill children.

The government is also hastening the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 at schools.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry’s Immunity Promotion Subcommittee has proposed boosting fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 17 with a half or full dose of Pfizer after an interval of four to six months. Vaccination points at schools will administer half doses from May 9, with another half dose available at local hospitals after the appropriate interval.

Published : April 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014849

One week after the Songkran holiday, Covid-19 patients occupy just over one-third of available hospital beds nationwide, the Medical Service Department reports.

“Currently 35.8 per cent of around 180,000 hospital beds for Covid-19 patients are being used,” department director-general Somsak Akkasilp said on Friday. Twenty-five per cent of available beds are occupied by pneumonia patients, he added.

The government forecast a surge of up to 100,000 cases per day after Songkran.

“The department will evaluate the situation again at the end of this month to draw up a management plan for hospital beds,” Somsak said.

Most newly infected patients have mild or no symptoms due to the Omicron variant, he added.

Worryingly, however, infections in children have increased from January. Small children have a higher chance of developing severe symptoms as they are too young to be vaccinated.

“More than 50 per cent of Covid-19 deaths in children under five are found in unvaccinated patients, most of them with underlying health problems,” he said.

The department has set the following Clinical Practice Guidelines for Covid-19 patients in four different groups:

1. Patients who test positive but have no symptoms will be given Fah Talai Jone capsules at their doctor’s discretion.

2. Patients who have mild symptoms and no underlying health problems will be given Favipiravir tablets.

3. Patients who have underlying health problems or develop pneumonia but do not need respirators will be monitored closely at hospitals and given either Favipiravir, Remdesivir, Molnupiravir or Nirmartelvir/Ritonavir (Paxlovid) depending on their symptoms.

4. Patients who require respirators or oxygen therapy will be given Remdesivir.

On Saturday, Thailand recorded 20,052 new Covid-19 cases and 129 deaths over the previous 24 hours.

Published : April 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014848

Farms in several provinces hiked the price of eggs from 3.4 baht to 3.5 baht per egg on Friday, making a carton of 30 eggs 3 baht more expensive and adding to the cost-of-living crisis.

Farmer cooperatives in Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Suphanburi, Chiang Mai and Lamphun told the Association of Hen Egg Farmers that production costs had jumped from 2.94 baht to 3.2 baht per egg in the past month due to the rising price of animal feed.

However, association president Manote Chuthabthim said the actual price of eggs at the farm gate will vary depending on negotiations and relationship with buyers.

“For example, regular customers could be granted a cheaper price of 3.4 baht per egg,” he explained.

He also urged immediate government action to relieve shortages of raw materials for animal feed that are hitting animal farmers and feed manufacturers.

“We have asked the Commerce Ministry to reduce the import tariff on corn, wheat and soybean for animal feed, but the ministry has so far not proposed this measure to Cabinet.”

Last Saturday (April 16), the Swine Raisers Association of Thailand announced the price of live pigs at farms had risen from last week’s 92-96 baht to 96-98 baht per kilo. Meanwhile, wholesale and retail pork prices were set at 150-156 baht and 190-196 baht per kilo, respectively, rising from 147-153 baht and 182-192 baht.

The rising price of animal feed has pushed the cost of pig raising to nearly 98 baht per kilo, the association said.

The price hikes stem from the ongoing war in Ukraine, a major producer of raw materials for animal feed.

Published : April 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014843

The Thai government’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday approved ending the Test & Go scheme and opening the country to foreign travellers from May 1.

From next month, those who wish to enter Thailand must follow the following steps.

1. For vaccinated travellers:

– Register for the Thailand Pass with a copy of your vaccine certificate and evidence of Covid-19 insurance with at least US$10,000 coverage.

– No test upon arrival required.

– Travellers are advised to take a rapid antigen test (ATK) while in Thailand. If the test is positive, they shall enter treatment covered their insurance.

– Those who come into high-risk close contact with infected people must isolate for five days and monitor their symptoms for another five days. ATK tests shall be taken on day 5 and day 10 after contact with Covid-19 cases.

2. For unvaccinated travellers:

– Register for a Thailand Pass and present a negative RT-PCR result taken within 72 hours of departure as well as evidence of $10,000 Covid-19 insurance, or

– Register for a Thailand Pass, present evidence of $10,000 Covid-19 insurance and book 5 days at an alternative quarantine facility.

– Upon arrival, remain in the alternative quarantine system and take an RT-PCR test on day 4 or day 5.

– Travellers advised to take an antigen test (ATK) while in Thailand. Those who test positive shall enter treatment under their insurance.

– Those who come into high-risk close contact with infected people must isolate for five days and monitor their symptoms for another five days. An ATK test shall be taken after day 5 five and day 10 after contact with Covid-19 cases.

Related News

Thailand removes all hurdles, opens fully for foreign arrivals from May 1

Published : April 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014837

Ministry of Public Health reported on Saturday (April 23) morning that in the past 24 hours there are 20,052 new patients who tested positive for Covid-19, 48 of whom have arrived in Thailand from abroad.

Death toll increased by 129, while 22,361 patients were cured and allowed to leave hospitals.

Cumulative cases in the country since January 1, 2022 are at 1,924,655.
 

Published : April 23, 2022

By : THE NATION

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40014836

In a rare celestial phenomenon last seen more than 1,000 years ago, an alignment of the planets Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye in Thailand from Monday to Wednesday (April 25-27).

Such a “parade” of the four planets has not been seen since the year 947AD, according to experts.

The National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (Narit) reported on its website on Friday that the four planets would “appear together” before dawn on those three days, from 4am until sunrise.

The planetary alignment will be visible in the eastern sky of the country, along with the Moon, the agency said.

“If the sky is clear and free from clouds, people across Thailand will be able to see the beauty of this astronomical phenomenon before sunrise,” Narit said.

On those three days, the Moon appears at different positions — next to Saturn on Monday, near Mars on Tuesday, and adjacent to Venus and Jupiter on Wednesday.

The parade of the four planets can be viewed from both the northern and southern hemispheres next week, albeit on different days.

For example, it is expected to be visible in India predawn from Saturday, and in Australia for a brief moment shortly before dawn on Sunday.

Published : April 22, 2022