A panel of specialists at the Thai Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) has approved the use of Chinese-made Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines in children aged 6 and above without adjusting the dosage, said TFDA Secretary-General Dr Paisarn Dunkum yesterday.
According to Dr Paisan Dankhum, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), which imports the Sinovac vaccine, and Biogenetech Ltd, which imports the Sinopharm vaccine, submitted documentation permitting the vaccines to be used for children aged 3 to 17.
Meanwhile, Dr Opart Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said on Facebook live yesterday that access to alternative vaccines for young children would help contain the spread of COVID-19 among them, noting that infection in the 5-11 and 12-17 age groups has increased by 6% and 5.6% respectively this year, compared to the period from last April to December.
Children older than 6 will receive the same dosage for both types of vaccine as adults aged 18 and over. Previously, Pfizer’s mRNA pediatric formulation in orange-cap vials was the only vaccine authorized by the FDA for use in children aged 5 and older.
Today (Saturday), the COVID-19 Information Centre reported 10,273 infections diagnosed using RT-PCR tests, the first day to have exceeded 10,000 this year, There were also 21 fatalities. 8,479 people have recovered and 88,463 are still undergoing treatment.
Infections are steadily on the rise, from 7,422 cases on February 1st to 8,587 cases on February 2nd, 9,172 cases on February 3rd, 9,909 cases yesterday and 10,273 today. The figures do not include positive rapid antigen test results.
 has approved the use of Chinese-made Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines in children aged 6 and above without adjusting the dosage, said TFDA Secretary-General Dr Paisarn Dunkum yesterday.){kind=link}