The move is hoped to boost confidence among local people to be willing to take the vaccine in the hope of preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Leading the way was Governor Narong, who is 58 years old, and his wife Ms Wandee, followed by Vice Governors Pichet Panapong and Piyapong Choowong, and their wives.
None of the entourage experienced any ill effects from the injection, and all of them were registered on the Mor Prom (“Doctor Ready”) Line Official Account as vaccinated for COVID-19.
The Mor Prom registration provides an e-certificate showing the registrant’s name, the date the registrant was vaccinated, the name of the company that produced the vaccine used, as well as the serial number and “Lot” number of the batch of the vaccine used to inoculate the registrant.
Present to oversee the vaccinations was Vachira Hospital Director Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol, he reconfirmed that Phuket has received 4,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine as the first phase of vaccinating people across the island.
Among the first to be vaccinated will be 1,500 medical staff on the island, followed by 500 local officers, Dr Chalermpong explained.
The vaccine requires two injections, he noted.
A total of 1,800 doses will be used to vaccinate 900 medical personnel at the five government hospitals on the island: Vachira Phuket Hospital, Thalang Hospital, Patong Hospital, Chalong Hospital, and Phuket Provincial Hospital, Dr Chalermpong said.
A further 1,200 doses will be distributed to vaccinate 600 staff at four private hospitals on the island: Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Bangkok Hospital Siriroj, Dibuk Hospital and Mission Hospital.
“In the next delivery, we will receive 16,000 doses of vaccine, and another 48,000 doses will come in May. In total, for the first three months, we will receive 68,000 doses of vaccine,” he added.
“In total, the vaccine will be provided to our target groups, comprising those who have high-risk contact with infected patients, those who have chronic diseases, workers in the tourism industry, and elders more than 60 years old,” Dr Chalermpong said.