AstraZeneca vaccine

Thailand decides to mix jabs as cases spike

The decision comes after hundreds of medical workers caught Covid despite being fully vaccinated with Sinovac.

Instead of two Sinovac shots, people will now receive the AstraZeneca vaccine after their first Sinovac shot.

Health workers already fully vaccinated with Sinovac will also receive a third booster from a different vaccine.

This can be either the AstraZeneca vaccine, or an mRNA vaccine like Pfizer/BioNTech. This third dose will be given three to four weeks after their second Sinovac jab, said the country's National Infectious Disease Committee on Monday.

Tonga’s King and Queen receive COVID-19 vaccination

According to Kaniva News, the Ministry of Health said the vaccinations were administered Saturday morning by the Ministry’s vaccination team led by the Minister for Health, Honourable Associate Professor ‘Amelia Afuha’amango Tu’ipulotu.

“His Majesty King Tupou VI, reigning King of Tonga and Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u received their first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine today, Saturday 15 May 2021, 10am at Vaiola Hospital,” it said.

Tonga receives second batch of COVID-19 vaccines

The Ministry of Health confirmed 19,200 doses of the Oxford – AstraZeneca vaccines arrived on Wednesday.

The Medical Superintendent for Health, Dr. Lisiate ‘Ulufonua and leads for the vaccination team, Dr Penisimani Poloniati, the Acting Chief Nursing Officer Sr Tilema Cama, and the Supervising Public Health Nursing Sr Afu Tei, were at Fua’amotu airport to receive the second batch.

Dr. Yutaro Setoya, Officer in Charge of the WHO Office for Tonga was also present to represent the Ministry’s key partner, the World Health Organization (WHO).

Pacific countries press ahead with AstraZeneca rollout

That is despite several European countries and Australia limiting its use because of safety concerns.

In Australia, the Pfizer vaccine is now the preferred option for people under 50, Britain is offering an alternative for those under 30, while France and Belgium recommend AstraZeneca be given to those 55 and over.

European regulators said earlier this month they had found a possible link between AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine and a rare blood clotting problem that led to a small number of deaths.