Thailand races to create COVID vaccine, eyes possible medical tourism boost

By Juarawee Kittisilpa

 

Phials of an mRNA type vaccine candidate for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are pictured at Chulalongkorn University during the development of an mRNA type vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Bangkok, Thailand, May 25, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/Files

 

AYUTTHAYA, Thailand (Reuters) - Momentum is building behind Thailand's push to create its own coronavirus vaccine, with more manpower and resources dedicated to the effort amid hopes it could boost medical tourism.

 

Thai trials of an experimental vaccine using monkeys started last month, one of at least 100 potential vaccines being developed globally. The government is hopeful it will have a cost-effective vaccine ready for next year.

 

Bionet-Asia, a local firm working with the government and a top Bangkok university, has put all other activities on hold and dedicated 250 personnel and all of its labs, technology and production facilities to developing a COVID-19 vaccine.

 

"In the case of COVID, there is a global effort to speed up experiment, trials, to share information, share diagnostics and that's why we are in a position too, to move very fast," chief executive officer, Pham Hong Thai, told Reuters.

 

He said tests on animals had so far shown encouraging results and the next step would be seeking government approval for clinical trials involving humans.

 

With just over 3,082 cases and 57 deaths, Thailand has had some success in containing the coronavirus and eased many of its restrictions in response to low infection numbers.

 

It has been seven days without a case of local transmission, with all infections this past week found among quarantined nationals returning from overseas.

 

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said it was important to channel all efforts towards the development of a vaccine and put Thailand on the medical map.

 

"Thailand has a good healthcare system, good medical practices. It will garner a lot of interest from tourists and investors and boost us as a medical hub," he said.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-01

 

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4 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

amid hopes it could boost medical tourism

haha; so the only way you can get into thailand is if you are sick

Edited June 1, 20206 yr by YetAnother

That will work just fine... if they insist on every foreigner arriving with a clean bill of health and Covid-free!

 

Quote

"Thailand has a good healthcare system, good medical practices. It will garner a lot of interest from tourists and investors and boost us as a medical hub," he said.

There's that "medical hub" dream again.

 

 

25 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Momentum is building behind Thailand's push to create its own coronavirus vaccine, with more manpower and resources dedicated to the effort amid hopes it could boost medical tourism.

The premise being that I would spend $1,500 on a plane ticket to get a $20 vaccine?

26 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said it was important to channel all efforts towards the development of a vaccine and put Thailand on the medical map.

If that map was South East Asia... sure.

 

22 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

haha; so the only way you can get into thailand is if you are sick

I can just see it now  ...

hi honey ....  how you feeling  ?

to be honest dear ... i feel really terrible ,  this hip definitely needs replacing and my heart arteries are closing fast ...

that's great honey  !   lets go to Thailand for a holiday.   

"Bionet-Asia, a local firm working with the government and a top Bangkok university."

 

Yea right, no idea what university they are referring to but the top Thai University in world global rankings comes out at 601 and thats "Mahidol University." 

The Thai never test anything and only care for money, a vaccin has to be tested very well or it can become a disaster with 

Exactly what I said weeks ago. Tourism was their whole plan all along. Give the world a false sense of security by under testing and under reporting the covid cases and get tourists back ASAP. Thailand can't survive without foreign tourism. 

Delusional. 

5 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said it was important to channel all efforts towards the development of a vaccine and put Thailand on the medical map.

 

"Thailand has a good healthcare system, good medical practices. It will garner a lot of interest from tourists and investors and boost us as a medical hub," he said.

Yea but how you going to get in if you've got C V and will the miracle be available only after you've done the 14 days isolation if they do let you in .. 

5 hours ago, Bkk Brian said:

"Bionet-Asia, a local firm working with the government and a top Bangkok university."

 

Yea right, no idea what university they are referring to but the top Thai University in world global rankings comes out at 601 and thats "Mahidol University." 

Thais  can't  count, theyre No.1 .Unfortunately they forgot the 60 in front of that, witness any shop and your change calculation. Then they don't trust themselves by counting it often 3 times.

I  like to  play along with the stupidity by counting it  out to them 1 2 3 4 twice then watch as they repeat it,  oh  dear.

I asked a metal shop to make me something the other day, what  followed was painful, gave them the sizes in "mm" they hadn't a clue I had to translate it into CM, just painful.

Edited June 1, 20206 yr by bodga

The vaccine to the unassailable lead LOS has so proudly built up on the daily RTA carnage should be a priority.  

4 hours ago, bodga said:

Thais  can't  count, theyre No.1 .Unfortunately they forgot the 60 in front of that, witness any shop and your change calculation. Then they don't trust themselves by counting it often 3 times.

I  like to  play along with the stupidity by counting it  out to them 1 2 3 4 twice then watch as they repeat it,  oh  dear.

I asked a metal shop to make me something the other day, what  followed was painful, gave them the sizes in "mm" they hadn't a clue I had to translate it into CM, just painful.

When we did a renovation and I had all the building designs for the fit out in mm the "cabinetmaker" I use that term loosely could not work out why my bed base was so out of whack..
He did not understand mm measurements at all and assumed all measurements on the plan was cm.. 
They actually built one base and the dimensions were so insane you would wonder why they continued to a finished product without stopping and asking if something was wrong..

His company was let go from the project...

Professionals......

 

 

There is zero chance they will be injecting me with anything “made in Thailand” with all due respect!

Thailand already has the vaccine - it's called an influenza shot.

5 hours ago, bodga said:

Thais  can't  count, theyre No.1 .Unfortunately they forgot the 60 in front of that, witness any shop and your change calculation. Then they don't trust themselves by counting it often 3 times.

I  like to  play along with the stupidity by counting it  out to them 1 2 3 4 twice then watch as they repeat it,  oh  dear.

I asked a metal shop to make me something the other day, what  followed was painful, gave them the sizes in "mm" they hadn't a clue I had to translate it into CM, just painful.

Ahh thats what ive been missing, some good old Thai bashing.

 

Thailand like all countries has some smart people and some not so smart people, I work with some extremely talented mechanical engineers (Thai) so one should not tar them all with the stupid brush.

What a joke...I put this vaccine propaganda along side the quest for subs..

 

wasted money and effort...focus on things that make a difference for Thai people on the ground...

 

what about motorcycle fatality reduction, children drownings, air pollution and child safety seat compliance? The practical public health list is endless... 
 

Bill Gates is putting $2 billion dollars towards vaccine development...what is the entire public health budget for thailand?

 

No idea on how to prioritize properly... 

Thailand.  The WooHoo Flu Hub.  ????

Banging on about medical tourism ($$$$$) rather than being able to vaccinate and protect the Thai proles. Yep, that’s the sound of a Thai politician alright, the minister for public health nonetheless. Check out what cars these leeches drive... tells all.

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thai trials of an experimental vaccine using monkeys started last month

Very brave of the government officials to offer themselves up for testing. However: the entire concept of creating a vaccine to boost tourism, serves only one purpose. It highlights the dangers of over exposure to the Thai education system

 

Thailand's motto (stolen from Gordon Gecko)  "GREED IS GOOD"

12 hours ago, YetAnother said:

haha; so the only way you can get into thailand is if you are sick

The difference won't be that big, I hardly know any healthy Farang. 

what ever country comes up with a vaccine or cure. they will do well.it could be any company anywhere

12 hours ago, timendres said:

The premise being that I would spend $1,500 on a plane ticket to get a $20 vaccine?

Not only the vaccine, of course. There's all kinds of other diseases that can be cured in Thailand. 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

It will garner a lot of interest from tourists and investors and boost us as a medical hub

Yup - come to Thailand for a vaccination against Covid - go home with genital herpes! 

57 minutes ago, Don Mega said:

Ahh thats what ive been missing, some good old Thai bashing.

 

Thailand like all countries has some smart people and some not so smart people, I work with some extremely talented mechanical engineers (Thai) so one should not tar them all with the stupid brush.

Agreed, but don't you get sick of the constant "we are going to /will" cure this, find this, revolutionise this /that and everything else - - Thai's need to grow-up, they are not the hub of all intelligence..... even if they believe they are. 

Merkel, Spahn and Drosten are hoax, what do you need more to know

Good luck I think we who are so negative hope we are wrong this time. 

 

First they talk about speed, then they say if successful they must get authorization and not until next year well that is pretty much the same as the other 99 companies!  Now that you have tested them with monkeys just move on with the other monkeys their leaders it is time for them to step up and make a real sacrafice for their people.????