Foreign Ministry issues statement explaining Covid-19 vaccine procurement process

By The Nation

 

 

The Foreign Ministry issued a statement on Thursday saying the government has attached the highest priority to the safety and quality of Covid-19 vaccines being procured.

 

The statement also said that all vaccines will first be approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration before the population is administered shots.

 

The statement, released by the ministry’s permanent secretary Thani Thongphakdi, said Thailand has negotiated with all potential manufacturers and is not relying on any single candidate. However, it said, deals have only been confirmed with manufacturers that can accept Thailand’s terms and conditions.

 

Meanwhile, the statement said, AstraZeneca reviewed many companies in Thailand and decided that Siam Bioscience has the potential to manufacture viral vector vaccines. It also meets the requirement of producing at least 200 million doses per year.

 

Thailand’s arrangement with AstraZeneca to produce vaccines for local use as well for distribution to other countries in Southeast Asia is based on a “no profit, no loss” principle, the statement said.

 

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved Bt1 billion for the National Vaccine Institute to research and develop vaccines in Thailand. This budget will be divided among other manufacturers, like Baiya Phytofarm and Chulalongkorn University, who have the potential to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.

 

The statement also said the National Science and Technology Development Agency is working on developing a Covid-19 vaccine with Siam Bioscience.

 

As of Tuesday, Thailand has ordered 61 million doses of the vaccine from AstraZeneca and 2 million doses from China’s Sinovac. The director of the National Vaccine Institute has said the 63 million vaccines should be enough to cover the most vulnerable groups in Thailand.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30401993

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2021-01-29

 

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according to an indian ambassador the FM refused point blank offer of 2mln doses for $4 and immediate delivery. Without any conditions. I think it was political decision, because FM is not qualified judge on quality of vax.

 

siam biosciense never made any vax in it's 12 year existence, so it's ability and capacity is zero. What it made in this time was 500mln financial deficit.  Looks, like competent decision makers in the right place.

 

Half of 1bln government support is going to siam bioscience, to buy necessary equipment for large scale production. So the remaining 500mln for the many other candidates. I think all money are wasted, because there are over 120 vax in clinical trials already. The thai one might come in few years after the pandemic has ended.

 

I do see yet another possible money spinner from collaboration between science agency and siam bioscience. Most probably vax would never be made, but a lot of money wasted/skimmed, as with all governmental grandiose projects.

 

why it's the FM talking about vax? is it an excuse for an unfolding vax scandal and covering their backs? 

 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

deals have only been confirmed with manufacturers that can accept Thailand’s terms and conditions

Arrogance and sheer disrespect for the majority of Thai people

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, the Cabinet has approved Bt1 billion for the National Vaccine Institute to research and develop vaccines in Thailand. This budget will be divided among other manufacturers, like Baiya Phytofarm and Chulalongkorn University, who have the potential to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.

Baiya Phytopharm, a Thai start-up from Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Plenty of handouts going to them

Am I missing something......what has this got to do with the Foreign Ministry?

4 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

Am I missing something......what has this got to do with the Foreign Ministry?

Probably aware of the international media reports on Thailand's failure to procure enough vaccines so an attempt at damage control through a press release?

     I think the headline should read 'foreign ministry issues statement explaining the covid 19 procurement mess'.  And, is every ministry going to weigh in with their two cents?  No surprise nothing gets done--just endless taking turns talking.   Wonder who's up tomorrow to try to explain why Thailand has no vaccine--and maybe will not get any until far off June.  

When the rest of the world is vaccinated 1-2 years ahead, Thailand will probably still have closed boarders and require 14d hotel quaranten to enter. 

A troll post with derogatory generalizations has been removed.