PHUKET: The Public Health Ministry began intradermal Covid-19 vaccination as a booster in this southern province on Friday, saying a normal dose could be stretched to inoculate five times as many people as by intramuscular injection.
Dr Withita Jaeng-iam, deputy director of Vachira Phuket Hospital, said intradermal injection started in Phuket with the Covid-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca as the third and booster shot.
The injection into skin was administered at six local inoculation stations with a combined capacity of vaccinating more than 8,000 people a day, she said.
Intradermal injection used one-fifth of the dose normally given to one person by intramuscular injection. Therefore, vaccination could cover more people faster, Dr Withita said.
Thai and foreigners were highly interested in intradermal injection, Dr Withita said.
Local and international research had found that it was as effective as intramuscular injection and with fewer side effects, accordig to Dr Withita.
