Thailand’s health ministry says those who’ve already received 3 doses of a Covid-19 vaccine should get a booster dose every 4 months to remain protected from severe symptoms. Dr Opas Karnkawinpong from the Department of Disease Control says research shows immunity wanes around 3 to 4 months after vaccination.
According to a Bangkok Post report, he says people in high-risk groups should get a booster every 4 months. This includes people over the age of 60, those with underlying health conditions, and pregnant women. Opas says other people who may have compromised immune systems should also get a booster, as should anyone who plans to travel abroad.
Addressing the question of waning immunity in children, Opas says a recent study shows that a dose of Sinovac, followed by a dose of Pfizer, can boost immunity in young children between the ages of 5 and 11.
“The sub-committee’s decision approves a low-dose Moderna shot or 25 micrograms per dose for children aged 6 to 11 years. The gap between each shot should be 4 to 12 weeks.”
Opas adds that while people can generally receive other vaccines on the same day that they’ve received a Covid vaccine, this does not apply in the case of viral vector vaccines. Viral vector vaccines require a gap of 1 month, as they use live viruses and getting simultaneous vaccines on the same day would lower the Covid vaccine’s efficacy. AstraZeneca, one of the commonly administered Covid-19 vaccines in Thailand, is an example of a viral vector vaccine.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
