First batch of COVID vaccines arrives in Thailand

The first batch of 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from China arrived in Thailand on Wednesday.

Vaccines sent from China's Sinovac pharmaceutical arrived at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport on a Thai Airways flight.

Thai Prime Minister, Prayuth Chan-ocha attended a ceremony along with Yang Xin, Charge d'Affaires from the Chinese Embassy in Thailand.

Thailand has ordered a total of 2 million doses from China.

117,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines will also arrive later on the same day.

Many critics and opposition parties have said that the government's procurement plans were delayed and inadequate.

Thailand is aiming to inject 10 million doses a month from June, and plan to cover at least half of the total population by the end of 2021.

Thailand's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration reported 93 new cases on Wednesday, of which 71 cases were local transmission and 22 were from travellers in state quarantine.

This raised a total confirmed case to 25,692 including 1,067 active cases and 83 deaths.

More than 20,000 cases were reported in the second wave, starting from Dec. 15.