Bangkok, The Comptroller General's Department is piloting the influenza vaccination for civil servants and their families, with direct payment for those aged 65 and over, starting July 1-August 31, 2024.Mrs. Patricia Mongkolvanich, Director-General of the Comptroller General's Department, along with executives of the Comptroller General's Department, Lecturer Dr. Pairoj Boonkhongchuen, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, jointly launched a pilot project to vaccinate high-dose influenza families of government officials who are eligible for direct payment aged 65 and over at Ramathibodi Hospital to prevent influenza and reduce hospitalizations for pneumonia in the elderly.This is another option to reduce the rate of influenza infection, reduce the severity of the disease, reduce hospitalization, and reduce the mortality rate in the elderly. The vaccination service was scheduled to be available from July 1 to August 31, 2024, or until the 50,000 doses are comple te. The vaccines will be distributed to government hospitals nationwide. There are 62 hospitals in 52 provinces that have agreed to participate in the vaccination service. Another 25 provinces will be announced to complete the 77 provinces.For seniors aged 65 and over who have already received a standard dose of the flu vaccine, they can still receive a high dose flu vaccine, but there must be a gap of at least 6 months between doses, according to the recommendations of the Infectious Diseases Society of Thailand. Interested persons can contact participating hospitals directly for details.Source: Thai News Agency