Thailand Reluctant to Join Covax Program on Strict Conditions

[Tonypandy]

4 hours ago, brianp0803 said:

Does anyone know what the restrictions are that Thailand is complaining about to be able to get the vaccine through WHO?

 

Maybe there are conditions like they must give the vaccine to the most vulnerable first and not to politicians. Or maybe they must distribute a vaccine for free and not charge foreigners extra money.

I think the  Thailand government is still hoping for countries to give them the technology and build factories in Thailand for the benefit of the government. Economics before public health. 

They have to make a rather large down payment in advance. Two thirds of countries around the world have signed up to the covax alliance. Does Thailand really think they can negotiate a lower price for the vaccines than an alliance of this magnitude, I think not. 

It's all down to one thing MONEY

[Joromei]

Would think the government are planning to  produce locally  ,perhaps get those brown bags circulating again 

[ThailandRyan]

11 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

It is also worth pointing out that Thailand has been ranked number 4 in the world for its performance in controlling Covid in the first place, making mass vaccination less of a priority.

Unless Tourism is a priority, which they are trying to do, and so then Vaccinations are needed.  

[Antonymous]

2 hours ago, DLock said:

Thailand will continue to malign the COVAX initiative with false narrative to defend their positions...which has failed.

 

I recommend those interested to read the COVAX summary to understand the facts. https://www.gavi.org/covax-facility

 

But going direct and competing with the big boys will result in begging for the scraps - as the mythical 50,000 AZ has proven.

 

Thailand will be forced into line eventually.

 

I haven't read the whole thing but did notice this within the link you provided:

 

"To be effective, COVID-19 vaccination plans must include migrants"

 

If a condition of supply includes this, I understand why Thailand may be shuffling their feet and reluctant to sign up!

[SwampyThai]

5 hours ago, Albert Zweistein said:

Developed ?

You beat me to it ????????

[Xonax]

The real problem with joining the Covax Program on strict conditions is, that graft would be almost impossible. The politicians in Thailand seems to always care more about their own bank accounts, than the country´s economy and peoples health and well being.

[Phoenix Rising]

2 hours ago, meechai said:

 

So

1- Is that such a bad thing to have a measly 7 million vaccines on order? If nothing else as a backup

 

 

2- Perhaps but buying directly will of course mean getting in line....Do you not own a watch? I know Prawit does ????

It is a little late to be putting in an order then to top it off to expect a deal on something that demand far outstrips supply???

 

Thailand...Thailand....What really is your problem?

An honest discussion regarding what really are Thailand problems would be oh so interesting but also very much against forum rules and Thai laws (which in itself clearly shows one of it's problems).

[Bkk Brian]

34 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

 

It is also worth pointing out that Thailand has been ranked number 4 in the world for its performance in controlling Covid in the first place, making mass vaccination less of a priority.

 

And when one considers out of the top 10 countries, 6 of them are island nations, with no border issues to concern them, I think that's a pretty remarkable achievement.

 

The world leaders in controlling the COVID-19

Thailand is also 4th in world for the highest loss in tourism revenue. 

 

"Thailand has one of the highest loss of tourism revenue in the world with a loss of $37,504 million USD. The country ranks fourth on a list complied by the company Official ESTA intended to show the financial impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on the global tourism industry." 

https://thethaiger.com/hot-news/tourism/thailand-ranks-4th-in-the-world-for-highest-loss-of-tourism-revenue-official-esta

 

Past performance has nothing to do with the next stage. Vaccinations. This is a priority now and they are failing, no point making excuses there are none. If this was a relay, they've dropped the baton and still struggling to find it.

[Scouse123]

5 hours ago, Justgrazing said:

 

It won't be as easy as that and putting a value on the price of health protection and whether they can swinge it down abit is quite deplorable ..

 

 

 

Thai junta as usual ' hedging their bets ' with the health of the nations poor.

 

You can bet your life all those in government get their jabs!

[orchis]

SiamBioscience, who will mass produce the AstraZeneca vaccine somewhere in the future(?) probably is part of the 'reluctance'.
Note also the recent developments around the efficiency of the Astrazeneca vaccine.

[ThailandRyan]

39 minutes ago, Antonymous said:

 

I haven't read the whole thing but did notice this within the link you provided:

 

"To be effective, COVID-19 vaccination plans must include migrants"

 

If a condition of supply includes this, I understand why Thailand may be shuffling their feet and reluctant to sign up!

You nailed it on the head, as they truly only want to help their folks out and not the others who are here like most countries are doing.

[DLock]

18 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

 

 

Thai junta as usual ' hedging their bets ' with the health of the nations poor.

 

You can bet your life all those in government get their jabs!

 

I don't think that are hedging their bets - that would imply they have multiple options to fall back on, but they don't.

 

They have pretty much gone all-in on AZ, to their peril.

 

Now they are trying to rationalize why COVAX is bad and dealing direct is better...but we all know why Thailand like G2G deals and a lack of transparency...

[Nanaplaza666]

1 hour ago, Tonypandy said:

They have to make a rather large down payment in advance. Two thirds of countries around the world have signed up to the covax alliance. Does Thailand really think they can negotiate a lower price for the vaccines than an alliance of this magnitude, I think not. 

It's all down to one thing MONEY

That's right and since they have shared and pocketed most of the money set asside for this downpayment because "they had it all under controle" they now try to strike a deal because they cannot let the people know that they acctually don't have enough money to pay the downpayment . I might be wrong on this and sorry if i am but , wasn't thailand one of the first to sign a deal with Astrazeneca long time ago to produce this vaccine here ? I geuss if you make such a deal you will somehow have put something in the contract that you are up in the line on being able to order a big batch for yourself . Or was this deal never made and where they just giving people fals hope as they always do to hide their greedy pocketfilling sceme . We are going to buy subs and will go to mars and the moon and it will cost us a <deleted> load of money and then when the subs or the moon shuttle never happen try to explain where the money went and will be using some scapegoats as they always do .

[Cake Monster]

It is worth reading an article in a newspaper out of Bangkok published on Saturday entitled " Government goes cool on Vaccine Pact ".

I think it better explains the reasons Thailand has rejected the Covax Scheme.

And as with all things in Thailand, at the real heart of the matter is Money.

But by placing all the eggs in one basket its a very risky game to play, specially if Siam Bioscience cannot produce , or has initial startup issues

[John Drake]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Under the program, Thailand would be charged extra for booking and it would have limitations on the producers and delivery period.

 

In other words, they would need to buy the more effective vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer, and Sputnik than the Chinese junk.

[John Drake]

4 hours ago, Phaser said:

Thailand needs to change direction as it’s looking like the govt may have bet on the wrong horse....http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/astrazeneca-oxford-vaccine-south-african-variant/2021/02/07/e82127f8-6948-11eb-a66e-e27046e9e898_story.html

 

Now, Thailand has put all its money on two vaccines. The Chinese vaccine is probably next to useless in any case. And now the AZ is useless against the South African variant. All because they didn't want Pfizer or Moderna to get in the way of deals with China.

[chilly07]

Don't worry. Deal already finalised and funded with Siam Bioscience and Astro Zeneca. No need to join Covax as money already spent. Meantime Wuflu mutates and Astro Zeneca no longer works. OK everyone must return their money and we will start again! Hang on can't we join a purchasing club that avoids all this? Where's that Covax application!

[Petey11]

7 hours ago, elgenon said:

I think I read that Europe was prohibiting the export of vaccine at the current time. Confused me though since England is no longer in European union. Maybe produced in Germany?

Think produced in Italy,one place and a couple of others, two places in UK I think, but as AZ has said UK production will go to UK orders first before starting export. Thailand needs to get their AZ licence sorted pdq I think.

[samtam]

7 hours ago, elgenon said:

I think I read that Europe was prohibiting the export of vaccine at the current time. Confused me though since England is no longer in European union. Maybe produced in Germany?

Some of Oxford AstraZeneca is produced in Belgium. I think Pfizer is produced in the EU. All of UK, not just England is no longer part of the EU, (much to the annoyance of the SNP).

 

3 hours ago, Antonymous said:

 

I haven't read the whole thing but did notice this within the link you provided:

 

"To be effective, COVID-19 vaccination plans must include migrants"

 

If a condition of supply includes this, I understand why Thailand may be shuffling their feet and reluctant to sign up!

Migrants (even illegal) are being vaccinated in UK. The point of the vaccination is that the majority of the population get it, so just giving it to Thais and no foreigners whether legally or illegally resident, is self-defeating.

 

Unless there's a proper vax programme in Thailand, it can kiss goodbye to its hallowed tourist industry, much of which may never recover.

[Caldera]

I thought that's a program specifically for poor countries. Thailand doesn't strike me as poor anymore.

[BernieOnTour]

Excellent, I wouldn’t have expected that, Thailand smarter than all others !

 

At least one country keeping its independence, its decision making by those in charge for that - the government.

We have seen so many supranational organizations falter, the best example is the EU.

 

Acting this way, they will keep their flexibility to decide about quantities, suppliers, timing and type of vaccine.

Relying on the WHO, their supply would be dependent on political muggling.

And with ~80 Covid-fatalities only, they would be the last ones getting access to the vaccines (... if they really want it, considering the benefit-risk ratio).

 

By the way, also interesting:

that’s the first time, I am hearing, countries have to pay a surcharge on the vaccine price to the WHO ... A really benevolent approach by the WHO, especially for poor underdeveloped countries, eg. in Africa...????

[soalbundy]

8 hours ago, elgenon said:

I think I read that Europe was prohibiting the export of vaccine at the current time. Confused me though since England is no longer in European union. Maybe produced in Germany?

still in Europe though

[Chiang Mai Bill]

11 hours ago, Petey11 said:

I was to believe the AstraZ was sold at cost price, no profit, so you cant get it much cheaper than that. 

Only to poor third-world countries. Would thailand wish to state it was a poor third-world country? Loss of face?

[tomauasia]

12 hours ago, Petey11 said:

I was to believe the AstraZ was sold at cost price, no profit, so you cant get it much cheaper than that. 

Astrazeneca are reconsidering there manufacturing relationship with Prayut. Won't be manufactured there. There against dictators jailing innocent people unfortunately. They will be vaccinated when new city is built on the moon 

[tomauasia]

1 hour ago, BernieOnTour said:

Excellent, I wouldn’t have expected that, Thailand smarter than all others !

 

At least one country keeping its independence, its decision making by those in charge for that - the government.

We have seen so many supranational organizations falter, the best example is the EU.

 

Acting this way, they will keep their flexibility to decide about quantities, suppliers, timing and type of vaccine.

Relying on the WHO, their supply would be dependent on political muggling.

And with ~80 Covid-fatalities only, they would be the last ones getting access to the vaccines (... if they really want it, considering the benefit-risk ratio).

 

By the way, also interesting:

that’s the first time, I am hearing, countries have to pay a surcharge on the vaccine price to the WHO ... A really benevolent approach by the WHO, especially for poor underdeveloped countries, eg. in Africa...????

 

Smarter your hilarious. Setting up citizens in the eyes of the world for having brains. The smart result was by Astrazeneca reconsidering  manufacturing contract with Thailand. Thanathorn and all the other brave Thais march forward. 

 

Who's smart the old man never invested into the top vaccine programs. Dribbling <deleted> that Thai have there  own vaccine. Absolute madness from the worst gov to ever sit. There finished anyway like there friends in Mynmar. 

Spare us the word smart. He destroyed the Thai economy long ago. Homeless Thais.

[SupermarineS6B]

Why vaccinate them ?  Good excuse to keep em all locked in ........ Less chance of anymore protests for a while.......     For a while....... All for "Peace and Harmony" of course....... 

[AMFWolfie]

10 hours ago, brianp0803 said:

I would guess that the world health organization would distribute the limited supply of vaccine to the countries that need it the most.
With the Thailand government reporting incredibly low number of people being infected, they might be on the bottom of the list to receive the limited supply of vaccine available to the world. Reporting very low number of infected people may backfire in being put on a priority list to receive unlimited supply of vaccine

Low numbers = low testing if recent examples are anything to go on. Anyway vaccines can wait until Thailand has joined the space program and bought their two new Chinese submarines costing billions of baht....lets wait until the country is on the bones of its <deleted>....

[SupermarineS6B]

39 minutes ago, Chiang Mai Bill said:

Only to poor third-world countries. Would thailand wish to state it was a poor third-world country? Loss of face?

It would if it was free, the they would charge for it......... The leopard can't change its spots..... 

[tomauasia]

15 minutes ago, AMFWolfie said:

Low numbers = low testing if recent examples are anything to go on. Anyway vaccines can wait until Thailand has joined the space program and bought their two new Chinese submarines costing billions of baht....lets wait until the country is on the bones of its <deleted>....

Destitude no vaccines no tourists. Yes smart leader ????

[Dibbler]

Land of Smiles, only country in Asia without a COVAX vaccination plan .  Even the nefarious junta across the western border and despot to the east have organized something for part of their respective populations. Thailand putting all its eggs in one basket?