Infections may be “3-4 times higher” than government-declared total

[spoon]

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

considering Malaysia has half of Thai population it seems you guys have bigger problem. Still in comparison to some European countries not that long ago both countries are not doing that bad. If only you can have enough vaccines

Perhaps, but officials did say that the increase in cases have been due to the mass testing. Doesnt mean much to me now, it just shows us that previous numbers were under reporting.

[macaroni21]

A bit of a screamer: "The Public Health Ministry said on Sunday more than 600 medical workers who received two doses of China's Sinovac vaccine have been infected with Covid-19, as authorities weigh giving booster doses to raise immunity."

Fortunately, this Bangkok Post story sobered up and added, "Of the 677,348 medical personnel who received two doses of Sinovac, 618  -- less than 1% -- became infected, ministry data from April 1 to July 10 showed. A nurse has died and another medical worker is in critical condition."

To have 1 percent infected after vaccination isn't all that surprising, but the headline isn't going to help persuade those who are already vaccine-hesitant.

 

 

[spoon]

25 minutes ago, macaroni21 said:

A bit of a screamer: "The Public Health Ministry said on Sunday more than 600 medical workers who received two doses of China's Sinovac vaccine have been infected with Covid-19, as authorities weigh giving booster doses to raise immunity."

Fortunately, this Bangkok Post story sobered up and added, "Of the 677,348 medical personnel who received two doses of Sinovac, 618  -- less than 1% -- became infected, ministry data from April 1 to July 10 showed. A nurse has died and another medical worker is in critical condition."

To have 1 percent infected after vaccination isn't all that surprising, but the headline isn't going to help persuade those who are already vaccine-hesitant.

 

 

To someone who weigh the risk vs benefit, sinovac definitely did very well in preventing death. Unless you have the luxury to choose vaccine type, which thailand dont have, sinovac is better than no vaccine. Indonesia also observe similar low rate of death amongst their health workers that were infected by covid, where 90% of them were vaccinated with sinovac.

Yes, if the media only fixated on the death after fully vaccinated, itll in fact will make those that were on the fence about vaccine or sinovac to choose either wait for a different vaccine or worse, avoid getting vaccine at all, which is still weird to me since the fact is, covid death has been way higher multiple folds all over the world. What responsible reporting would look like is to compare the death rate amongst health workers before and after vaccines and see how vaccines help reduce the death rate.

In the end, people will only see what they want to see. All the information are there, its up to the adult to decide for themselves. Some countries are making vaccine compulsory though.

[Guest]

Bangkok Post "Is there a jab cover-up in Thailand?"

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2145731/is-there-a-jab-cover-up-in-thailand-

 

Extract:

"The second set of question marks involve the possibility that perhaps there is more than meets the eye in Thailand's vaccine procurement.

The Sinovac vaccine is produced by China-based Sinovac Biotech; it has been reported by foreign media including the Washington Post, that its CEO bribed China's drug regulator for Sars and swine flu vaccine approval back in 2003-2006. The company, nevertheless, became a rising star for investment in biotech.

Hong Kong-listed Sino Biopharmaceutical, with CP Pharmaceutical Group as a shareholder, invested $515 million, giving it a 15% stake in Sinovac Life Sciences, the unit in charge of the Sinovac vaccine.

When Sinovac's efficacy is being questioned in Chile, Indonesia and elsewhere, where Sinovac-immunised people have contracted Covid variants, why has the Prayut cabinet kept ordering more and more of this Chinese vaccine instead of pursuing superior doses elsewhere?"

 

 

[Gaybutton]

1 hour ago, z909 said:

Bangkok Post "Is there a jab cover-up in Thailand?"

I don't know, but it would come as no surprise to me if it is true.  Corruption and greed seems to be behind just about everything else.  Why should vaccines be any different?  I can only hope the vaccines people are getting really do work.

Personally, I prefer to wait for Moderna, Pfizer, or perhaps something new - if it won't be forever before those vaccines become available in Thailand.

[spoon]

While im sure we cant rule out corruption, we also cannot rule out that ordering sinovac could be as simple as this is what available in the shortest time. Vaccine shortage is worldwide, so its very logical that the less effective ones are the most available. Beggars can't be chooser. I guess chinese sinovac has been very active pushing their vaccine while others are already overbooked by a lot, thus if thai gov put an order now, they might not see the first shipment maybe until 2022.

I wish price is a factor but sinovac is more expensive than astrazeneca. If AZ can cope with world demand, ill bet itll be the first choice of any government struggling economically. But then again TIT. Anything goes hehe.

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Sinovac dumped as second-dose vaccine in favour of AstraZeneca

In a major policy change, the Public Health Ministry has decided to use the AstraZeneca vaccine for the second jab for those who received Sinovac as the first dose.

Public Health Minister Anutin Chanvirakul announced the change on Monday. 

AstraZeneca would be administered as the second shot three or four weeks after the Sinovac inoculation. A combination of the two vaccines would provide a better defence against the Delta variant of the virus, he said.

Mr Anutin did not say what people who have had two doses of Sinovac should do when the change in policy comes into force, or how it would affect people awaiting their first or second dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

The change was announced after a meeting of the National Communicable Disease Committee as part of measures to cope with Delta, the highly contagious variant of the virus first detected in India and rapidly becoming the dominant strain in Thailand 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2147511/sinovac-dumped-as-second-dose-vaccine-in-favour-of-astrazeneca

 

[Guest]

People who had one dose of Sinovac will now get Astra Zeneca for the second dose.     

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2147511/sinovac-dumped-as-second-dose-vaccine-in-favour-of-astrazeneca

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Sinovac-produced antibodies 'halve every 40 days'

Antibody levels in people fully vaccinated with the Sinovac vaccine decline by half every 40 days, according to findings from a joint study between Thammasat University's faculty of medicine and the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Biotec).

The findings were revealed by Anan Jongkaewwattana, director of Veterinary Health Innovation and Management Research Group of Biotec.

Mr Anan wrote on Facebook that their study of 500 people, who received two doses of Sinovac, indicated that the level of antibodies drops by 50% every 40 days. The level of antibodies in people who received a second jab more than 60 days after the first was on average lower than that of those who got the second dose in less than 60 days, he said.

Mr Anan said the vaccine potency within 60 days of the second shot is between 60%-70% against the original strain. The potency against the original strain declines to about 50% in those receiving the second shot for over 60 days.

However, no data is available about the potency of two doses of Sinovac against variants, especially the highly contagious Alpha and Delta strains.

The overall level of immunisation is likely to drop in older people, he said, adding those aged over 40 showed lower antibody levels than those younger.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2147667/sinovac-produced-antibodies-halve-every-40-days

=====================================

Govt lambasted for wasting early success

The government has mismanaged the Covid-19 pandemic and supply of vaccines, which has plunged the country into a crisis and stifled opportunities to recover, according to new research by the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).

The institute has also called for the setting up of an independent committee to study the mishandling of the pandemic with the aim of drawing up a blueprint to prevent similar mistakes occurring in the future as it evalues the government's performance after two years in office.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said the government will hold a press conference to respond to the TDRI's assessment on Tuesday.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2147583/govt-lambasted-for-wasting-early-success

 

[PeterRS]

"People must be held responsible and there should be an independent committee to gather facts and study the situation to prevent the same mistakes in the future," said the report.

But will it? Action on past independent committee reports indicate that is unlikely. But this time so many people in the country are effected and the country itself impacted in such a major way as a result of calamitous decisions at the highest level that I think it might just be effective. I keep my fingers crossed that it will come up not only with solutions that will prevent future errors, but also point the finger of blame for the disasters since January 2020 at those who deserve it and mete out some form of meaningful punishment. That is no doubt less likely to happen, but one lives in hope.

[billyhouston]

The situation in Myanmar is far worse. As an example the Junta recorded the number of deaths from COVID in Kale township, Sagaing Division, in the first week of July to be 6. The correct figure is reported (reliably) to be 207. Doctors who went on strike, in support of the protesters, are unable to return to their hopitals because there are arrest warrants out for them.

Min Aung Hlaing and his cronies have killed about 900 people since February and arrested 6000. Hospitals in Yangon and Mandalay have no empty beds and probably insufficient medicl staff. Meanwhile, Thailand abstains at the UN and now say they want to work with ASEAN, who are totally useless.

Next time you are in Mae Hong Son, look carefully at the design of the Wats and ask yourself why they are as they are?

[reader]

From Thai Enquirer

Twitter bans account of prominent Thai hospital administrator

Twitter banned the account of a prominent Thai hospital administrator on Wednesday, although no reason was given for the ban.

Dr Suwadee Puntpanich, a director at Thonburi Bamrungmuang Hospital, was a prominent Twitter presence in Thailand with her account noted its criticism of the government’s Covid response and praised for finding hospital beds for hundreds of Covid-19 patients.

Suwadee’s regularly tweeted updates about government vaccine policy and had criticized the government for now allowing private hospitals to bring in their own vaccine.

Suwadee has also spent the last two weeks helping out Covid-19 positive patients on Twitter find a bed due to lack of hospital space in government facilities.

Her activism has resulted in Troll campaigns mounted by unknown actors and has been the subject of criticism from government officials.

https://www.thaienquirer.com/29849/twitter-bans-account-of-prominent-thai-hospital-administrator/