BANGKOK:Thai Airways International (THAI) is scheduled to carry the first batch of 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from China to Thailand on Feb 24.

THAI chairman Chaiyapruk Didyasarin said the Public Health Ministry chose the airline to transport the vaccine developed by the Chinese pharmaceutical company, Sinovac Biotech Co.

He said Thai Airways Airbus A350-900 would depart from China at 6.50 am (local time) on Feb 24 and scheduled to arrive at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport at 11.05 am, the same day.

“The airline has prepared for this important task, with refrigerated containers that can store goods at temperatures ranging from -20°C to +20°C.

“THAI has experienced staff in moving the cargo that requires strict temperature control,” he said, quoting Bangkok Post.

To date, Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet granted emergency use approval for the COVID-19 vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand was expected to start its COVID-19 vaccination three days after its arrival on Feb 24.

“The Department of Medical Sciences will inspect the vaccines again before the inoculation programme begins,” he said.

Meanwhile, Thailand recorded 72 new COVID-19 cases and zero deaths over the last 24 hours, bringing the tally in the kingdom to 24,786 cases and 82 fatalities.

Of the 72 new cases, 48 were through active case detection, 21 were those seeking treatment at hospitals while another three cases were found in alternative state quarantine (ASQ) facilities in Bangkok.

-- BERNAMA