NVI explains Thailand’s COVAX Facility absence

Paphamon Arayasukawat

 

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - With online posts circulating that Thailand is the only ASEAN country not receiving any vaccine through the COVAX Facility, the National Vaccine Institute has issued an explanation of the matter, saying that having direct deals with the manufacturers is a better option.

 

According to the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), Thailand would face an additional fee when purchasing vaccine from the COVAX Facility, which was set up to ensure vaccine availability in low to medium income countries.

 

With national income exceeding the criteria, Thailand can still purchase the vaccine through the COVAX Facility, with a 1.6 USD per dose surcharge for procurement without choosing a manufacturer, or 3.5 USD per dose surcharge if the country wishes to specify a manufacturer from the COVAX approved list.

 

According to the NVI, countries have two opportunities to make their vaccine decision with COVAX, which could result in delayed delivery, while the money put in for vaccine purchases will not be refunded should there be issues with the vaccine chosen. These purchasing costs and fees paid via COVAX still do not include logistical fees, storage costs, and taxes.

 

The NVI notes that the country will have more flexibility when making direct deals with vaccine manufacturers, with better negotiation power on pricing, a better assurance on the delivery timeframe, plus the option to negotiate conditions on the scope of responsibility of each party.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-02-07

 

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4 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The NVI notes that the country will have more flexibility when making direct deals with vaccine manufacturers, with better negotiation power on pricing, a better assurance on the delivery timeframe, plus the option to negotiate conditions on the scope of responsibility of each party.

 

With prices hidden from the publics prying eyes and no transparency.  It will thus allow more graft and price increases in order to make more money for those involved directly in the procurement chain.  Bravo Thailand, another FACE saving message.  However, that is my view, and far be it from my being in expert on graft and corruption, for that I leave it up to the Government of a country who is rated 104th.

The NVI either does not understand COVAX, why it exists and the benefit worldwide.

 

Hiding behind a weak economic argument and saying "going direct" is better hasn't worked, and won't work. Larger economies with bigger volumes, spending power and contractual strength will force Thailand to eventually beg for crumbs and pay for the priveledge.

 

COVAX exists so that countries like Thailand don't have to bet on 1 vaccine and then compete for quantity.

 

The explanation by the NVI is pathetic. They have let Thailand down by believing they had any leverage or connections - begging for 50,000 AZ vaccines - how is that working out for you?

 

Now they are forced to look in Asia for vaccines, which means India or China for more expensive options.

 

Fail.

 

 

Very embarrassing statement. An admission of failure. Also says that Thailand is a very selfish country because GAVI also helps poor countries and Thailand gives nothing. Thailand has no chance of accessing the state of the art mRNA vaccines and must wait for technology transfer on Oxford vaccine.  All that Thailand has is possible purchase of unverified Chinese and Russian vaccines for which there has been no publication of reliable data. The Thai hisos won't be taking the Chinese or Russian vaccine and will instead buy western quality for themselves leaving poor the untested, untried vaccine from china.

 

From GAVI:

The principal role of the COVAX Facility is to maximise the chances of people in participating countries getting access to COVID-19 vaccines as quickly, fairly and safely as possible. By joining the Facility, participating countries and economies will not only get access to the world’s largest and most diverse portfolio of COVID-19 vaccines, but also an actively managed portfolio. The Facility continually monitors the COVID-19 vaccine landscape to identify the most suitable vaccine candidates, based on scientific merit and scalability, and works with manufacturers to incentivise them to expand their production capacity in advance of vaccines receiving regulatory approval.

 

Self-financing countries and economies participating in the Facility can request vaccine doses sufficient to vaccinate between 10-50% of their populations. The amount they pay into the Facility will reflect the number of doses they have requested. For these countries the Facility serves as a critical insurance policy that will significantly increase their chances of securing vaccines, even if their own bilateral deals fail. And by pooling resources through the Facility, participating countries and economies are essentially helping to increase the world’s chances of bringing about COVID-19 vaccines as quickly as possible, and in the quantities that we need.

so price of Astrazenca in the EU is $2.18 and thailand is paying $200mln for 26mln so $7.78 per dose.

on top of it the government is sponsoring Siam Bioscience production line to the tune of 600mln (20mln).

 

for sinovac, with 52% efficacy, they are paying 650b per shot, which is price for Pfizer, which has much higher efficacy and needs only 1 shot.

 

so now they are paying through the nose for an emergency supplies, because they ignored issue earlier on.

 

that is mentioned in the article graphic 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

With online posts circulating that Thailand

 

How the authorites must long for the pre-social media days when their authority was NEVER EVER questioned.

 

Now they've got deal with the plebs, and often end up looking stoopid in the effort.

 

 

 

 

6 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

How the authorites must long for the pre-social media days when their authority was NEVER EVER questioned.

 

Now they've got deal with the plebs, and often end up looking stoopid in the effort.

 

 

 

 

Additionally, they then use the Les Majeste charge to go after those they feel have disparaged the Monarchy by discussing the lab in question and the procurement process.  In Addition to that they have passed judgement on said person and he is being made to remove said remarks.  On top of that they are now going after his entire family.  Rock the boat and make this Government loose FACE and they will find every avenue to ensure you do not exist.  

13 minutes ago, internationalism said:

so price of Astrazenca in the EU is $2.18 and thailand is paying $200mln for 26mln so $7.78 per dose.

on top of it the government is sponsoring Siam Bioscience production line to the tune of 600mln (20mln).

 

for sinovac, with 52% efficacy, they are paying 650b per shot, which is price for Pfizer, which has much higher efficacy and needs only 1 shot.

 

so now they are paying through the nose for an emergency supplies, because they ignored issue earlier on.

 

that is mentioned in the article graphic 

Thailand doesn't need C.O.V.A.X, they have G.R.A.F.T; and the highest level of it.

I.T.I (In Total Inhumanity)

Almost all countries are vaccinating now except Thailand. This leads to so much speculation about systemic graft and corruption.   The daily plan and then change of plans does nothing to make any of the 68 million plus Thais and expats any more confident In the current failures of this government.

 

That said, let private hospitals acquire internationally approved vaccine (except Chinese). I'm willing to pay an exorbitant amount for me and my family that can trickle down to the ministers to benefit the general public.

 

 

And yet reading an article in a newspaper that can not be named, almost a quarter of the people surveyed as to whether or not they would be vaccinate, actually 23.57%, said they don't want to be vaccinated at all.  In talking with the Thai's we know many would rather, if they had a choice, get a vaccination from a private hospital as they do not trust what they are hearing from the Government and are concerned they will be forced to take the Sinovac vaccine which has not passed muster as one Thai/Brit couples we know told the GF.

Reading between the lines, Thailand has rejected any assistance from the " Covax Scheme " for mainly 2 reasons.

The first reason is that Thailand will have to pay for any Vaccine that is procured from Covax,  and as the 21st richest Country in the World, so they should pay. Other poorer Countries get the Vaccine FOC from the Covax Scheme.

Secondly, with so much invested in Siam BoiScience, they feel that having all their Eggs in one basket will be a good policy, as the financial returns will come from the BioScience Sales from other Countries.

A certain Newspaper out of Bangkok carries an article on this subject this Morning that is well worth a read ( Entitled - Government goes cool on joining Vaccine Pact ), and as always at the heart of everything in Thailand is Money

The government dont want to part with a Deposit for vaccines from Covax, and seem concerned about unit cost per shot, and the actual quality of the Vaccines they may be offered through the Scheme.

Yes it is all about  money but we can only hope that  those who profit from 70m Thais outweigh those who profit from vaccines as a dramatic  reduction  in profit from  day to  day activity should trump.  However  if it is one and the same and there is  no true lock down then the comparatively  low profit from vaccines is immaterial.  So the decision is 'wait and see'

For me it's the Oxford or Pfizer vaccine or I won't bother, I don't care that much either way.

 

There is no rush, this place can stay locked down for another 5 years for all I care.

 

2 hours ago, internationalism said:

so price of Astrazenca in the EU is $2.18 and thailand is paying $200mln for 26mln so $7.78 per dose.

on top of it the government is sponsoring Siam Bioscience production line to the tune of 600mln (20mln).

 

for sinovac, with 52% efficacy, they are paying 650b per shot, which is price for Pfizer, which has much higher efficacy and needs only 1 shot.

 

so now they are paying through the nose for an emergency supplies, because they ignored issue earlier on.

 

that is mentioned in the article graphic 

Did anyone actually expect them to do this any other way than the worst way possible? They can’t help themselves. 

Jabber, jabber, jabber.  Excuses piled on more excuses.   I'm not buying it.