COVID‐19 vaccine wastage in Thailand amidst vaccine inequity and pandemic‐to‐endemic transition

Abstract

Abstract COVID‐19 vaccine wastage is an emerging issue globally. In Thailand, which has declared COVID‐19 to be an endemic disease, the risk of vaccine wastage lingers despite the remaining vaccine inequity. Although the country does not publicly report its vaccine wastage rate, a wastage incident has been reported. With the remaining secured vaccine doses that have yet to be delivered and Thailand's pandemic‐to‐endemic transition, Thailand should strategize to avoid vaccine wastage. This commentary highlights several factors that can potentially lead to vaccine wastage in Thailand: cold chain logistics issues, vaccine hesitancy, and unequal vaccine accessibility. The Thai government should continue its efforts in mitigating these issues to maximize its vaccination program.

Keywords

• COVID‐19
• pandemic
• pandemic‐to‐endemic transition
• Thailand
• vaccination
• vaccine wastage