Polls show hesitancy rising ahead of Thailand's mass inoculation push
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A medical worker preparing a dose of China's Sinovac vaccine at the Central Vaccination Centre, inside the Bang Sue Grand Station, in Bangkok, on Monday. Thailand's main vaccination drive will start on June 7.
PHOTO: REUTERS
BANGKOK • Vaccine hesitancy has risen sharply in Thailand, opinion polls show, just weeks away from the start of a mass inoculation programme and as the country fights its deadliest Covid-19 outbreak.
Reasons for the rise in vaccine hesitancy were unclear in the polls, but there are widespread complaints about government disorganisation, delays in getting vaccines, and reliance on Sinovac and locally made AstraZeneca doses.
Thailand has reported 135,439 infections and 832 deaths since the pandemic began last year.
In January, 83 per cent of Thais surveyed by polling firm YouGov were willing to be vaccinated, but by May that dropped to 63 per cent in the same poll, lower than Vietnam and the Philippines at 83 per cent and 66 per cent willingness respectively.
Thai-based Suan Dusit Poll on Sunday echoed the YouGov findings of rising vaccine hesitancy, with 64 per cent of respondents willing to be vaccinated, compared with 66 per cent in January.
Dissatisfaction with the military-backed government's vaccine strategy has been building for months.
Asked by Suan Dusit Poll for their views on Thai vaccinations, only 57 per cent of respondents believed that they would help develop immunity and reduce the virus' impact, while 59 per cent worried about side effects.
With Thailand's main vaccination drive - due to start on June 7 - relying heavily on AstraZeneca, respondents had 66 per cent confidence in the shot, which ranked fourth behind US-developed vaccines, with Pfizer top at 75 per cent.
Thailand aims to inoculate 70 per cent of its population by the year end, a level its tourist hot spots must also reach locally before reopening to vaccinated foreign visitors.
Registration is ongoing for the first 16 million people, including those over 60 years old or with health conditions. So far, 7.8 million people have registered.
Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said he believes the vaccines will be embraced once the inoculation programme starts.
"As Thailand receives more doses, there will be more vaccine sites, which will help create awareness among the public after they see large numbers of vaccinations do not lead to serious side effects," he told Reuters.
Actress Araya "Chompoo" Hargate sparked controversy after she posted to her 10.5 million followers on Instagram saying she chose Sinovac. "Can't help but think this is government PR," wrote user iloveurdadmaybe. Among the concerns is the perception that Sinovac has a low efficacy rate.
REUTERS
