Thailand Reluctant to Join Covax Program on Strict Conditions

[Phaser]

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

[hotchilli]

4 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. 

Middlemen need to have a cut... remember where you are.

[Artisi]

3 hours ago, ourmanflint said:

Thailand still on track to be one of the last developed countries to be vaccinated. Bravo 

Developed is a bit of a stretch when applying it too "smarts" 

[hotchilli]

2 hours ago, Phaser said:

Ok so why not allow private hospitals to source and distribute - more wasted time by the Thai govt

Kickbacks?

[ExpatOilWorker]

2 hours ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Just go to the Bloomberg vax tracker.

 

Good suggestions. 

 

More Than 131 Million Shots Given: Covid-19 Vaccine Tracker  ["https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/covid-vaccine-tracker-global-distribution/?utm_medium=deeplink"]

[FarFlungFalang]

2 hours ago, Phaser said:

Ok so why not allow private hospitals to source and distribute - more wasted time by the Thai govt

I believe they have already done this which helps those that own the private hospitals to maximise their profits by selling it at inflated prices to those who they've scared witless with the help of the media.It's a really smart business move for those who will benefit the most from this pandemic. 

[Bkk Brian]

24 minutes 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

Thats behind a paywall for me, here's the story on the BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55975052

 

"South Africa has put its roll-out of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on hold after a study showed "disappointing" results against its new Covid variant.

The study, involving around 2,000 people, found the vaccine offered "minimal protection" against mild and moderate cases of Covid-19."

 

Covid-19 is keeping one step ahead of vaccine development 

 

[ExpatOilWorker]

59 minutes ago, internationalism said:

just more of junta xenophobia, jingoistic nationalism and leaving scope for corruption, whenever possible. 

Both deals, with astrazeneca and sinovac, are marred with shadow circumstances.

 

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). Possibly more money will be coming to rescue their inability to make vaccines - they never made a vial in their 12 year of existence.

 

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

 

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

 

They might simply have realized that Bioscience could not successfully produce a quality vaccine and with the ownership structure,  failure is not an option.

 

There is no refund even if the agreement was terminated due to unsuccessful development of the vaccine, he said. 

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30402334?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=internal_referral

[Elkski]

It's not hard to imagine Thailand is to proud to get help from Covax.   They were so focused on tourists coming they missed the ball on what travelers are going to be looking at in a destination and vax % will be very important in 8 months. 

[fulhamster]

37 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Middlemen need to have a cut... remember where you are.

And that is the biggest reason for the delay.

 

[ThailandRyan]

35 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Kickbacks?

Well, exactly.  How else is the country run.  On the Astrazenica vaccine, issue, well they get what they paid for, and thats nothing as of right now.  They were looking at the golden goose, technology to make the vaccine here, and then sell it onward for more cash in the pockets of the big one and the hangers on.  Always trying to fleece the citizens instead of assisting them like the former big man would have done.

[hioctane]

19 minutes ago, Elkski said:

It's not hard to imagine Thailand is to proud to get help from Covax.   They were so focused on tourists coming they missed the ball on what travelers are going to be looking at in a destination and vax % will be very important in 8 months. 

They don’t qualify for free vaccine. They are considered a middle income country and would still need to pay. From the sounds of it, I wouldn’t accept the conditions either.

[Bkk Brian]

7 minutes ago, hioctane said:

They don’t qualify for free vaccine. They are considered a middle income country and would still need to pay. From the sounds of it, I wouldn’t accept the conditions either.

Why would you not accept the conditions, have you read them in full or just got the excuses from Thai Officials?

[shackleton]

Was Thailand not  talking about getting the vaccine February 

Now saying April and it goes on 

We could  still be talking the if and when for a long time yet

[Dialemco]

Thailand should concentrate manufacturing vaccines as it appears owing constant mutations it will be necessary for an annual booster 

[sandyf]

4 hours ago, ourmanflint said:

Thailand still on track to be one of the last developed countries to be vaccinated. Bravo 

Do you really think it is a coincidence that apart from India and Brazil, the top of the leader board in vaccinations are all in the high level of GDP per capita.

One day this forum may come to realise that Thailand does not have the same spending power as their home state. Whinging is no solution, either go home or wait it out.

[sandyf]

3 hours ago, Phaser said:

Ok so why not allow private hospitals to source and distribute - more wasted time by the Thai govt

Source what? only approved medical supplies can be imported.

[DLock]

11 minutes ago, hioctane said:

They don’t qualify for free vaccine. They are considered a middle income country and would still need to pay. From the sounds of it, I wouldn’t accept the conditions either.

 

The answer to your question can be found in your very own statement.

 

They don't deserve the vaccine for free because they are a middle income country.

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, Dialemco said:

Thailand should concentrate manufacturing vaccines as it appears owing constant mutations it will be necessary for an annual booster 

Manufacturing what vaccines?  Do they have any to produce?  Are they trying, and have they been trying to create one for almost a year, yes they have, and the results well there are none yet.  Still waiting on Anutin to say any day now they will have their own vaccine completed and ready, just like he did over 6 months ago....all about saving FACE and pocketing money, well that's my view at least.

[Moonlover]

3 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. 

''These agreements mean that all COVAX’s 190 participating and eligible economies will be able to access doses to protect vulnerable groups in the first half of 2021. At least 1.3 billion donor-funded doses will be made available to 92 economies eligible for the Gavi COVAX AMC, targeting up to 20% population coverage by the end of the year''.

 

WHO COVAX Announcement

 

[maddermax]

... and whilst they are pfaffing around people are dying!

[ThailandRyan]

2 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Source what? only approved medical supplies can be imported.

Hospitals were trying to obtain vaccines from outside the country themselves, and one hospital was trying to obtain the funds by pre-selling the vaccination before they were shut down.  Then the Government gave them the green light, but lets say, that's not happening yet.  So there is your answer Sandy, in a nutshell.

Private hospitals can import Covid vaccine: Thai FDA (nationthailand.com)

[Patong2021]

4 minutes ago, Dialemco said:

Thailand should concentrate manufacturing vaccines as it appears owing constant mutations it will be necessary for an annual booster 

The manufacture facility in Thailand must be upgraded and expanded. It takes as much time to certify a new built facility as it does to build it.  Thailand cannot just change over to make this vaccine because its  vaccine manufacturing is already taking care of essential needs.

 

3 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?

 

South Korea is manufacturing the Oxford Astra Zeneca vaccine. Already announced in news Canada will buy from South Korea. India manufactures 60% of world vaccines and will manufacture the Oxford version for the world.  EU cannot block.

[FarFlungFalang]

7 minutes ago, maddermax said:

... and whilst they are pfaffing around people are dying!

People die wether they pfaff around or not.

[Derek B]

4 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

You may be right however lets hope Thailand is rewarded for it's good record with covid having saved so many lives.

[Moonlover]

10 minutes ago, maddermax said:

... and whilst they are pfaffing around people are dying!

Where?

[Katipo]

4 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

 

New Zealand is rolling out it's vaccination program in April. If the Thai Gov are having issues, they are, as usual, of it's own making, and, as usual, the entire country will suffer because of them.

[Bkk Brian]

20 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Do you really think it is a coincidence that apart from India and Brazil, the top of the leader board in vaccinations are all in the high level of GDP per capita.

One day this forum may come to realise that Thailand does not have the same spending power as their home state. Whinging is no solution, either go home or wait it out.

You don't have to focus at the top of the leader board, its obvious who is likely to be there. What is important is that you have actually started vaccinating your people. Myanmar is, Cambodia starts on Wed. Not particularly known for their high level of GDP per capita

[dallen52]

Suppose to be a world price set...each company. 

Especially if the country is borderline 3rd world. 

As said previously..

Not For Profit..

[Moonlover]

44 minutes ago, sandyf said:

4 hours ago, ourmanflint said:

Thailand still on track to be one of the last developed countries to be vaccinated. Bravo 

 

44 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Do you really think it is a coincidence that apart from India and Brazil, the top of the leader board in vaccinations are all in the high level of GDP per capita.

One day this forum may come to realise that Thailand does not have the same spending power as their home state. Whinging is no solution, either go home or wait it out.

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