Respiratory specialist doesn’t want Covid to be declared endemic just yet

The Public Health Ministry is pushing to meet its target of declaring Covid-19 endemic in Thailand on July 1.

Manoon reasoned that many hospitals in Bangkok were dealing with a rising number of Covid-19 patients. For instance, Vichaiyut Hospital in Phaya Thai district had reopened a ward for Covid-19 patients, he added.

However, he confirmed that most patients developed mild symptoms as they had already received Covid-19 vaccine jabs.

Manoon advised people to take precautions, such as wearing a face mask, avoiding crowded or poorly ventilated areas, maintaining social distancing, washing one’s hands regularly and getting another booster shot in time.

The doctor said he had received four Covid-19 jabs – two Sinovac, one AstraZeneca and one Moderna. He added that he would receive the fifth – a Moderna jab – before waiting for a new generation of vaccines.

Manoon expected new Covid-19 vaccines to be rolled out at the end of the year or the beginning of 2023.

“Everyone must know that they could be infected with Covid-19 despite receiving five vaccine jabs,” he said.

However, vaccines can reduce the risk of developing severe symptoms or death, he added.