In a significant stride towards enhancing public health, the National Vaccine Institute has authorized Provincial Administrative Organizations (PAOs) to procure influenza and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) under the guidelines specified in the Public Procurement and Supplies Administration Act. This initiative aims to broaden access to essential vaccines for communities nationwide.

Dr. Nakorn Premsri, the institute director, announced on Friday that last year, two PAOs in Pathum Thani and Chonburi successfully engaged in a pilot project, procuring 200,000 and 12,000 doses of flu vaccines respectively. With plans for PAOs to start procuring PCVs later this year, those that are financially capable can now take action.

The National Health Security Office (NHSO) reported challenges last year, only managing to secure 4.5 million doses of the flu vaccine due to budget constraints, despite a government target of vaccinating 10 million individuals from at-risk groups by 2024. Dr. Nakorn indicated that PAOs could use their budgets to help bridge the gap of approximately 5.5 million doses, underscoring the urgency of taking proactive measures.

While the NHSO has yet to obtain additional funding, it appears that PAOs may face slightly higher costs for vaccines compared to the bulk rates achieved by the NHSO’s larger procurements. Despite this, Dr. Nakorn encouraged financially prepared PAOs to commence procurement promptly, enabling vaccinations to kick off without delay.

The director also emphasized the critical importance of vaccinating infants against pneumonia at an early age, given the disease's high fatality rate. Infants should receive three doses of the PCV during their first year—at two months, four months, and again at 12 months.

In addition to the immediate focus on flu and pneumonia vaccines, the institute is actively researching mRNA vaccine technology in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University aimed at combating the H5N1 bird flu strain, despite the absence of reported outbreaks in Thailand so far.

This move is a pivotal step in bolstering public health measures, and communities are encouraged to stay informed about vaccination opportunities with the impending changes in PAO capabilities. The proactive availability of these vaccines could save countless lives, making timely vaccination more crucial than ever.