The Ministry of Public Health is worried about 3 countries having found a natural genetic “polio” patient, another 22 countries have found an epidemic of mutant vaccine strains. “Indonesia” has already met 4 cases, fearing 4 southern border provinces Polio vaccine coverage is less than 90%. Approved measures to accelerate the vaccination of Thai children under 5 years of age and foreign children under 15 years of age, along with establishing a national anti-polio, measles and measles eradication program. The green light cancels the issuance fee for the certificate of the Covid Electronic Vaccine for another year.
On December 21, Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) announced a press conference after the 10th/2022 meeting of the National Committee on Communicable Diseases that the COVID-19 situation in the past month has seen an increase in patients. But all was as expected. The number of seriously ill patients and deaths has increased, but not as much as expected. and in a controlled situation In the past, measures were Accelerate vaccination to reduce severe cases and deaths. Especially the 608 group, in the past 2-3 weeks, there has been an increase in vaccination from October to November 5-10 times, which is a booster injection for needles 3 and 4, according to the campaign that the COVID vaccine should be received. 19 At least 4 doses per person. When receiving the last dose 4 months apart, get the vaccine. At this time, 153 million doses of cumulative injections can be injected and ready-made immunity (LAAB) is given to risk groups who have been vaccinated and are not immune. which has more injections
“Thailand, we open the country Almost no restrictions And there are more than 10 million foreigners coming in. Now there is no situation so severe that the policy must be changed. Still maintaining the policy of vaccination, at least 4 injections, preparing medical supplies for care, which the hospital has enough medical supplies other measures such as gathering activities can be done But be careful of large gatherings. poorly ventilated By wearing a mask, it can also help reduce infection and spread. The Ministry of Public Health will continue to monitor the situation and is expected to be able to control the situation. As for the activities during the new year, it can be carried out. But be careful, especially the risk group 608 and various risky activities, ”said Dr. Opas.
Dr. Opas said The meeting presented the situation of the polio epidemic. In which Thailand has not had a patient since 1997 or more than 20 years, but now there are 30 natural polio outbreaks in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Mozambique, and 577 cases of vaccine-mutated polio in 22 countries have been found. Near our home is Indonesia, 4 cases. The meeting agreed with the Department of Disease Control’s proposal to increase expedited vaccination measures in various target groups to completely define risk areas. and rehearsing a response plan if an outbreak occurs, which the Ministry of Public Health continues to monitor the situation continuously. In addition, the meeting also agreed on 3 issues: 1. Accelerated measures to prepare for the risk of disease outbreaks. polio abroad 2. Appointing a sub-committee to drive the eradication of polio, measles and rubella at the national level and 3. Exempting the fee for issuing a certificate of immunization in case of COVID-19 in electronic form for another year until December 31. . 2023
Dr. Sophon Iamsirithavorn Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control said that accelerated measures to deal with polio will allow all provinces to speed up vaccination coverage among target groups, namely Thai children under 5 years old in areas with low vaccine coverage. For foreign children in areas with low vaccination coverage, it will be given to children under 15 years of age, raising the level of polio vaccination coverage to be sufficient to prevent the disease. Normally, the coverage exceeds 90%, but during the COVID-19 outbreak, some areas dropped slightly below 90%, namely the 4 southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and some districts of Songkhla. This has to be done urgently to bring it back to normal levels. However, polio outbreaks in other countries are now usually in areas where vaccine coverage is very low, for example below 50%.
Asked whether the mutant polio strains were different or more virulent than the natural strains. Dr. Opas said Polio caused by natural polio strains are Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Mozambique, the other is polio that is mutated from a vaccine strain. which causes the child to have leg weakness but not more severe than the original strain but be careful The prevention measures use the same method, namely vaccination for risk groups. and have good hygiene measures Cultivation is a contagious gastrointestinal disease. Having to eat clean, cooked food will be safer.