The picture released on Tuesday shows Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha (center) receiving the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: AFP

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha became the first person to be inoculated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in the Southeast Asian country on Tuesday after the rollout had been temporarily put on hold over safety concerns.

Prayuth and other cabinet members had been initially due to get their vaccine shots on Friday, before Thailand suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after reports that it could cause blood clots prompted a number of European countries to hit pause.

"Today I'm boosting confidence for the general public," Prayuth told reporters at Government House, before he received a shot in his left arm.

Prayuth, who will turn 67 in March, later said he felt fine after the injection.

Thai health minister said Monday that the rollout would resume after many countries had said there were no blood clot issues with the vaccine.

Thailand has started vaccinating frontline health workers and other groups using imported shots but the country's overall vaccination strategy is heavily reliant on making the AstraZeneca vaccine domestically.

Reuters