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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/life/40005429

Booster third shot needed for the elderly after six months, Pfizer study shows

Elderly people should have a booster third dose of Covid-19 vaccine as their immunity declines rapidly in six months of receiving both doses, a senior medical.official has said.

Dr Chalermchai Boonyaleephan, vice chairman of the Public Health Commission, said that the immunity of the elderly who had received two doses of Pfizer vaccination was initially greater than that of medical personnel.

He said that Pfizer’s mRNA technology vaccine, which consistently reported high levels of immunity and prophylactic efficacy over time, has reported from a study that immunity levels and prophylactic efficacy decreased sequentially, especially when the delta virus spreads around the world and affects the effectiveness of all vaccines.

Many people who are fully vaccinated have been wondering whether they need a third booster dose.

At present, the United States has made booster shots in immune-compromised people (nearly 3 per cent of the total population) mandatory and Israel allows booster shots in seniors aged over 50.

Thailand has started to offer triple booster shots to frontline medical and public health workers, especially those who have received two doses of Sinovac vaccine.

He added that as per the Pfizer report, immunity levels in the elderly who had got two shots were lower than in younger healthcare professionals.

This may be a major reason why healthcare workers and the elderly are the two groups at risk and are in a similar position. Providing booster shots now requires serious attention, Dr Chalernchai said.

Published : August 29, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/life/40005423

Over 9 million people in Thailand could have been infected with Covid, says specialist

A Thai medical expert believes the number of Covid-19 cases worldwide was at least 10 times higher than official figures.

Dr Manoon Leechawengwong, a respiratory specialist at Wichaiyut Hospital, said that the number of people infected with the novel coronavirus around the world was under-reported. The number of people reported to be infected with Covid-19 in the whole world is 10 times less than the actual number, he said.

Epidemiological scientists have said that the reported numbers were like the tip of an iceberg, because there were many people who don’t get tested even with symptoms and there were many others who were asymptomatic and unchecked. There are now 215 million confirmed cases worldwide, and possibly as many as 2.150 billion, or about a quarter of the world’s population, the specialist said.

As for Thailand, there are 20,000 cumulative reports of coronavirus cases with the estimated daily number as high as 120,000 or more. The cumulative number of confirmed cases is now 1.13 million. It is possible that the number of real cases may be as high as 9 million, accounting for 13 per cent of Thai population, he said.

Thais don’t have to panic when they see the number of infected people as high as 9 million and instead should be glad, as a person who has recovered will not be exposed to the current strain of the virus and will not infect others, he explained.

Published : August 29, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40005338

UK move Thailand to red list for travel

Thailand had currently on the amber list for travel to England from abroad. It will move to the red list 4am, Monday 30 August. If Thai traveller arrive in England after then they must follow the red list rules.

Everyone allowed to enter England who has been in a red list country in the 10 days before they arrive must:
• Quarantine for 10 full days in a managed quarantine hotel (the day you arrive in England counts as day 0)
• Take a coronavirus (COVID-19) test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8 of quarantining
• Follow the national restrictions
Providing false or deliberately misleading information when filling out your passenger locator form is an offence punishable by imprisonment.
What you need to do before you arrive in England

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Before you travel you must:
• Take a COVID-19 test and get a negative result during the 3 days before you travel. For example, if you travel directly to England on Friday, you must take the test on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
• Book a managed quarantine hotel within a 14-day period before arrival. The booking will include your hotel, quarantine transport and travel tests for COVID-19 tests on day 2 and day 8 of quarantine
• Complete a passenger locator form (PLF) with details of where you will quarantine when you arrive. You must provide a quarantine package invoice number to complete your passenger locator form
• Book your quarantine hotel (through CTM)
• If you’re having difficulty booking call +44 (0)20 7429 9732.
• You will need to agree to book and pay for a quarantine package before you complete your passenger locator form and board your return journey to the UK.

How much you’ll need to pay
• 1 adult in 1 room for 10 days (11 nights) £2,285
• Additional rate for 1 adult (or child over 11) £1,430
• Additional rate for a child aged 5 to 11 £325
⁠
Read more:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#red-list-rules 

Published : August 27, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40005330

Mideast in Pictures: Dogs get new haircut in Israel on Intl Dog Day

On the occasion of International Dog Day on Thursday, a dog barber was busy trimming the hair of pet dogs in his mobile barber shop in central Israeli city of Modiin.

People often say that a dog is a man’s best friend. The International Dog Day is observed annually on Aug. 26 and helps people recognize the importance of dogs and how they impact our lives.
 

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A dog barber trims the hair of a pet dog in his mobile barber shop in central Israeli city of Modiin, Aug. 26, 2021.

A dog barber trims the hair of  a pet dog in his mobile barber shop in central Israeli city of Modiin, Aug. 26, 2021. 

A dog barber trims the hair of a pet dog in his mobile barber shop in central Israeli city of Modiin, Aug. 26, 2021.

A dog barber trims the hair of a pet dog in his mobile barber shop in central Israeli city of Modiin, Aug. 26, 2021. 

Two dog barbers trim the hair of a pet dog in a mobile barber shop in central Israeli city of Modiin, Aug. 26, 2021.

Two dog barbers trim the hair of a pet dog in a mobile barber shop in central Israeli city of Modiin, Aug. 26, 2021.

Mideast in Pictures: Dogs get new haircut in Israel on Intl Dog Day

A dog barber trims the hair of a pet dog in his mobile barber shop in central Israeli city of Modiin, Aug. 26, 2021. 

Published : August 27, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/life/40005316

PSU studies use of kratom to treat drug addicts

A Prince of Songkla University (PSU) research team is conducting trials on the use of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) to treat drug addicts.

Kratom was removed from Thailand’s list of banned narcotics on August 24.

Prof Dr Somchai Sriwiriyajan, chief of the university’s Department of Pharmacology under the Faculty of Science, said the team has been studying the use of kratom for a long time, and the lifting of the ban is helping speed up the study.

The team is studying kratom extract to see if it can be used to ease withdrawal symptoms of people addicted to opioids like heroin and morphine. Normally, the chemical methadone is used to treat withdrawal symptoms and this drug is imported.

Somchai said research shows that kratom can effectively help people give up drugs. PSU is currently trying out the extract’s efficacy on lab rats before it moves on to human trials. The professor said he hopes the final product will meet clinical standards and gets approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration.

Published : August 26, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40005313

Thai researchers develop world’s first Covid-19 sweat test

Thai researchers have tapped the abilities of sniffer dogs to create what is thought to be the world’s first sweat test for Covid-19.

Created by Chulalongkorn University, the quick and easy-to-use portable test device detects scents in sweat that signal infection. Each sample takes only 15 minutes to collect and provides results in 30 seconds, said a Chula press release. The sweat test is already being used in community screening, it added.

The new test is based on the success of the “Covid-19 Sniffer Dogs” project, a collaboration between Chula and Chevron. The university said the “Portable Sweat Test for Covid-19 Detection” would supplement the army of sniffer dogs in accelerating and expanding community screening.
“We took [Covid-positive] samples that the dogs found and searched for specific substances they could detect,” said Asst Professor Chadin Kulsing, from Chula’s Chemistry Department, where the test was developed. 

“From the samples, we found that people infected with Covid-19 secrete very distinct chemicals. So we used this finding to develop a device to detect the specific odours produced by certain bacteria in the sweat of Covid-19 patients.” 
Chadin added that this was the first time Covid-19 has been detected via these chemicals.

Thai researchers develop world’s first Covid-19 sweat test

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How does body odour prove viral infection?
Human sweat can have more than 100 unique odours, from deodorants and bacteria that feed on sweat and other skin secretions.
“In people infected with Covid-19, the bacteria react to the virus and produce distinct odours unique to Covid-19 infection,” Chadin explained.

To develop the portable sweat test device, he took a commercially available portable toxic-chemical analyser and fitted it with a filter to detect the virus.
The test kit consists of a cotton swab and a glass vial.
The cotton swab is placed in the armpit for about 15 minutes, then placed in the glass vile which is sterilised with UV rays.  

“The technician then draws an appropriate amount of the sample using a suction hose, and pressurises it in the analyser to check the results,” explained Chadin.
The advantage of this method is that it can be adapted to detect variants of the virus through their unique sweat signatures.

“The equipment should be able to handle the variable chemicals with just a change of filter,” Chadin added.
In field tests on 2,000 people, the sweat test performed on par with the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test with 95 per cent sensitivity and 98 per cent specificity. 

However, Chadin advises that people who test positive in the sweat test should get a PCR test for confirmation.
The portable sweat test device is still in the research and development phase, with Chula and the Department of Disease Control collaborating on field tests in communities. Chadin said the test was being used for proactive screening in communities with emerging clusters. 

“We are also working with Sniffer Dogs Mobile Units to take over from the canines during their rest period,” he added.

Thai researchers develop world’s first Covid-19 sweat test

Published : August 26, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40005298

Locally made Covid-19 test kit ready for FDA approval

The locally-made “COVYD-19 Ab Test Kit” is ready and was submitted for Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval on Thursday. This kit is believed to match the standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and is said to be easy to use as well as provide fast, accurate results. 

The Thai Khu Fah Facebook page announced on Thursday that the new Covid-19 test kits developed by the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology will be used in research institutes to determine the level of immunity before and after vaccination. 

The kit indicates the level of antibodies available against Covid-19 and requires a reading machine that is available in laboratories and general hospitals. 

“Conducting immunity tests at the population level is key to effective vaccine management, frontline personnel management and to determine what measures should be implemented for public health,” the post read.

Published : August 26, 2021

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40005294on.

Toddlers must also be jabbed to boost herd immunity, advises virologist

Chulalongkorn University’s virology specialist Dr Yong Poovorawan on Wednesday suggested that Covid-19 jabs be provided to children aged three and above in a bid to create herd immunity.

“Even though children may not develop severe symptoms, they should not be virus carriers,” he said.

Separately, he said the Sinovac-AstraZeneca cocktail dose provided as much immunity as two AstraZeneca doses, citing a study on 70 to 80 people.

Also, he said, the Sinovac-AstraZeneca cocktail can be administered within a three-week interval compared to the eight or 10-week interval for two AstraZeneca doses.

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Dr Yong added that 190 of the 500 medical staff who had received an AstraZeneca booster after getting two Sinovac jabs had 100 times more antibodies than they did with two Sinovac jabs.

He said that the 190 medics may be almost 100 per cent protected against the Covid-19 Delta variant but not against the Beta variant.

He added that compared to Sinovac, Pfizer and Moderna vaccines provide 17 times more immunity and AstraZeneca nine times more immunity.

Published : August 26, 2021

#SootinClaimon.Com : ขอบคุณแหล่งข้อมูล : หนังสือพิมพ์ The Nation.

https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/life/40005258

Thailand to use 5 different vaccination formulas

Thailand will use five formulas to vaccinate different target groups against Covid-19, the Public Ministry revealed on Wednesday.

For the general population – adults aged over 18, the elderly, the chronically ill and women more than 3 months pregnant – 2 formulas will be used. The main formula will be a shot of Sinovac followed by a shot of AstraZeneca vaccine 3 weeks apart. Those who have already had their first dose of AstraZeneca will receive a second dose of the same vaccine 12 weeks later.

Children aged 12-18 with chronic health conditions and women more than 3 months pregnant will receive 2 shots of Pfizer vaccine, 3 weeks apart.

Frontline health workers will be vaccinated with one of 5 formulas:

– Those who have had two doses of Sinovac or Sinopharm will get a booster shot of Pfizer or AstraZeneca.

– Those who have had one dose of Sinovac, Sinopharm or AstraZeneca will get a second dose of Pfizer after a period determined by the brand of the first shot.

– A first dose of Sinovac and followed by AstraZeneca, 3 weeks apart (cross-vaccination formula).

– Two doses of Pfizer, 3 weeks apart.

– Two doses of AstraZeneca, 12 weeks apart.

Pfizer vaccine will be distributed to the 13 provinces in the Dark Red zone of high infections, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the 12 million doses of Sinovac in the August-September procurement plan will arrive in time for cross-vaccination with AstraZeneca, it added.

Data showed side effects after cross-vaccination did not vary with different brands, said Dr Chawetsan Namwat, director for emergency health hazards and diseases.

Published : August 26, 2021

By : The Nation

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https://www.nationthailand.com/life/40005246

Clinical trials show ChulaCov19 vaccine boosts immunity against Covid and variants

Clinical trials for the Thai “ChulaCov19” mRNA vaccine have been a success as healthy volunteers to whom it was administered are found to have good immunity after they have been vaccinated.

Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, and the Vaccine Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University held a press conference to report on the progress of the locally made vaccine.

The volunteers’ antibodies have been greatly boosted to prevent the original strain of the virus, and four other variants, namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, they said. Manufacturing and preparation for registration to be used in an emergency are underway.

Professor Suttipong Wacharasindhu, director of Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University said: “It is gratifying that the development of ChulaCov19 vaccine is advancing as planned and gaining the public’s confidence in the safety of the testing process.”

ChulaCov19 vaccine was designed and developed by a team of Thai researchers working in collaboration with Pennsylvania University’s Professor Drew Weissman, a physician-scientist who too wants to make the mRNA vaccine technology more accessible to people, especially in countries with moderate and low incomes.

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The good news from the Phase 1 clinical trial is that the subjects, after having received the second injection for seven days, showed mild to moderate side-effects, localised pain in the injected arm, fatigue, fever, and chills, but the symptoms improved within one to three days on average. Also, it was found that ChulaCov19 could boost high antibodies immunity against the original strain of the virus, Suttipong said.

In addition, the vaccine can inhibit all four mutated strains: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta by more than 80 per cent, while boosting T-cell immunity which helps to eliminate and control the pathogen in the cells of infected people as well, he added.

Vaccine temperature endurance tests showed that ChulaCov19 could be stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius refrigeration for as long as three months and can also be kept at room temperature of 25 degrees Celsius for two weeks. This makes the vaccine much easier to store than other types of mRNA Covid-19 vaccines.

Published : August 25, 2021

By : The Nation