Hanoi (VNA) - About half thepopulation of Thailand has now acquired immunity against COVID-19 but thisremains well short of the government's 80 percent target, according to thecountry’s Department of Disease Control (DoDC).

Dr Chakkarat Pitayowonganon, director of the DoDC’s epidemiologydivision, said around 10 percent of Thailand’s 67.5-million people areestimated to have contracted the virus so far. When combined with those whohave received two doses of vaccine plus a booster shot, those with immunityagainst the novel coronavirus should account for about 50 percent of thepopulation.

He said boosters must be prioritised, especiallyfor vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with serious underlyingillnesses.

According to Dr Chakkarat, during last week's Songkran holiday, many people ofworking age were out enjoying activities in public places. They ran a low riskof developing severe symptoms if infected because most of them were fullyvaccinated and had received one or two booster jabs. But there is mountingconcern that they might have passed the virus on to vulnerable people duringSongkran visits to family and friends.

Around 55 percent of those in vulnerable groups have not been inoculated at all,he said.

He advised people who come into close contact with vulnerable people to wearface masks, sleep in separate rooms, practice social distancing when eating andmake sure elderly relations are vaccinated./.