The first two million doses would prioritize vaccination for 80,000 medical personnel and health volunteers, 20,000 disease control workers, people with chronic diseases as well as those aged 60 and over, said Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the disease control department at the ministry.
The first-phase recipients would be in Samut Sakhon, Rayong, Chonburi, Chanthaburi and Trat, which had high levels of infection and had been declared as regions under maximum control with high strict measures, he said.
The second phase would involve 26 million doses and be given to people of vulnerable groups from May to June, while the third phase, set for later this year and early next year, would involve vaccinating enough of the general population.
As of Thursday, the number of Thailand's total confirmed cases rose to 9,636, more than 5,000 of which were reported since mid-December, when the new cluster of cases was first detected among migrant workers in Samut Sakhon.
