Thai vaccine guideline: 10 Things you need to know

Vaccination has become an essential tool in the control of transmitted diseases and the protection of public health. Thailand has established its own comprehensive vaccine guideline to ensure a systematic approach to vaccine distribution as countries strive to administer vaccines efficiently. In this article, we will go over some important aspects of the Thai vaccine guideline that everyone should be aware of.

What is the Vaccine Guideline? 

Vaccine guidelines are recommendations and protocols provided by health authorities or organizations regarding vaccine administration, dosage, scheduling, and use in humans. These guidelines are based on scientific evidence, clinical trials, epidemiological data, and expert consensus to ensure the safe and effective use of vaccines in the general population to control and reduce the effects of infected diseases.

Vaccine guidelines for the general population provide a list of essential vaccines, an effective dosage, and a schedule to help people receive vaccines safely and effectively from childhood to the elderly. Vaccine guidelines for medical professionals provide administration and guidelines to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient general distribution of vaccines. 

Vaccine recommendations may differ by country or region due to epidemiological profiles and public health authorities. In the case of Thailand, the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of Thailand provides Vaccine Guidelines for children, and the Infectious Disease Association of Thailand provides Vaccine Guidelines for adults and the elderly.

Why do you need to follow the Vaccine Guidelines?

Vaccine guidelines are intended to ensure that vaccines are used safely and effectively under the recommendation of vaccine manufacturers. As a result, receiving vaccines following the guidelines benefits you and your family because vaccines effectively lower the risk of infection and the severity of the consequences associated with the infection.

Following the vaccine guidelines also benefits society because it increases the likelihood of developing “herd immunity,” which can prevent disease transmission to a large population. Currently, the global use of vaccine guidelines aids in the global eradication of smallpox as well as the effective control of poliomyelitis, measles, rubella, and rabies.

What is included in the Thai Vaccine Guideline?

As mentioned before, Thailand has two sets of guidelines: children’s guidelines and adult guidelines. Both have some differences in the type of vaccine and schedules shown in the following table.

Children’s Guidelines, 2023 Edition

Adults Guidelines, 2018 Edition

Vaccination Process for Foreigners 

Foreigners in Thailand can receive both essential vaccines included in the guideline and specific vaccines not included in the guideline, such as Yellow fever, Typhoid fever, and Meningococcal, through private hospitals nationwide and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases of Mahidol University.  

Making an appointment and bringing your immunization certificate to the hospital was the first step in the vaccination process. The doctor will then inquire about your medical history, drug allergies and hypersensitivity, and vaccination history. Following that, the doctor will inform you about the benefits, risks, and side effects. If you agree to get vaccines, the hospital will ask you to sign a consent form before proceeding with the vaccination process. The procedure will be performed by a registered nurse, and the doctor will require an observation period of 30 minutes to 1 hour. If no adverse effects or abnormalities occur, the doctor will finalize your immunization record, and the vaccination process is done. 

Vaccine Passport

The Yellow Card, or World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, is a travel document that gives international confirmation that the holders have been vaccinated with WHO-certified vaccinations. The vaccine passport contains personal information as well as vaccine information such as the date received, manufacturer, and batch number. 

Some nations may demand the vaccine passport as part of the entry proposal, which must be completed by an authorized practitioner in English or French and bear a valid stamp from the vaccine administration center. The certificate itself is valid for as long as the vaccine contained within it is.

In Thailand, the Vaccine Passport can be applied at the Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention near BTS Wat Phra Sri Mahathat, Travel Medicine Clinic at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute in Nonthaburi, and Quarantine Office at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The process required a valid passport, vaccine Certificate, and a documentation fee of 50 Baht.

Vaccination at Phyathai 1 International

Phyathai 1 International is ready to provide you with complete vaccination solutions, including vaccine counseling, vaccine operation, and vaccine documentation. We have a wide range of vaccines available, including vaccines recommended by Thai guidelines such as influenza, hepatitis, and HPV, vaccines recommended by  major health regulators like CDC and NHS, additional vaccines such as COVID-19 and Rabies, and vaccines for travelers such as yellow fever and cholera.

If you are considering receiving vaccines in Thailand, we recommend consulting with our vaccines specialist at Phyathai 1 International, which opens daily from 8 am to 8 pm. To ensure the fastest procedure time, We recommend taking a reservation by phone at number (+66)2-201-4600 ext.2148 or by E-mail at [email protected].