Skin or muscle? The choice facing COVID booster recipients in Thailand

13 Sept 09:02 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Public Health Ministry now offers three COVID-19 booster options: full intramuscular (30mcg), half intramuscular (15mcg), and a new intradermal (skin) injection (10mcg), effective February 1st.
The new options aim to significantly reduce common and severe side effects associated with mRNA vaccines, with over 10,000 compensation claims already approved for adverse events.
Experts advocate for the intradermal method, highlighting its safety, comparable efficacy with less vaccine, and a tenfold reduction in side effects compared to traditional intramuscular injections.
This initiative leverages Thailand's successful history with intradermal vaccinations, previously used for rabies, and is crucial as the country accelerates its booster campaign amid a surge in Omicron variant cases.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Today 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.