Thailand has suspended the roll-out of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on Friday, stopping Premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha from receiving the first jab of the vaccine.
This comes after several European nations suspended their programmes over blood clot fears.
The kingdom was scheduled to start administering the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday, with Prayut expected to be filmed receiving the first injection.
But by 8:30 am (0130 GMT) the gruff former general was nowhere to be seen, the event was abruptly cancelled, and a press conference with health officials was called.
“Vaccine injection for Thais must be safe, we do not have to be in a hurry,” Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, an adviser for the country’s Covid-19 vaccine committee, told a press conference.
“Though the quality of AstraZeneca is good, some countries have asked for a delay. We will delay (as well).”
Denmark, Norway and Iceland suspended the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab the day before.
Austria on Sunday stopped using doses from one batch after a 49-year-old nurse died of “severe blood coagulation problems” days after receiving an anti-Covid shot.
