Laos urges people to get inoculated

The Lao Ministry of Health has called on people to get the second shot of COVID-19 vaccine on time to ensure effectiveness.

A site for COVID-19 vaccination in Luang Prabang, Laos (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
A site for COVID-19 vaccination in Luang Prabang, Laos (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Those who have not received the first can register with local health agencies, it added.

In a statement, the ministry said that people can sign up online to be fully vaccinated. Residents of Vientiane capital having received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be allowed to travel to other localities without needing permission or quarantine.

This year, Laos has set a target to inoculate half of its population. More than 600,000 people have to date been injected with the first shot and 200,000 others fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, people in Thailand are expected to get locally developed COVID-19 vaccines as a third booster jab next year.

None of the current Thai-made vaccines have yet passed clinical trials. However, researchers behind the domestic vaccine efforts insist their vaccine research and development work can still help long-term efforts to stop COVID-19 and enhance the country's ability to fight such diseases in the future.

The Thai government’s mass nationwide vaccination campaign is set to begin on June 7. The drive is hoped to immunise 50 million people, or 70 percent of the population, by the end of December.