FDA chief denies private vaccine rollout is being unnessarily delayed - rules must be followed

Image: Daily News

The chief of Thailand's Food and Drug Administration responded to criticism from a private hospital that the country's vaccine rollout in the private sector was being unnecessarily delayed.

Daily News quoted general secretary of the FDA Phaisan Dankhum as saying it was not a slow process and everything was being done to expedite the private sector in getting vaccines. 

But he said that the rules needed to be followed properly, rules he said that were explained in detail at a meeting on March 8th. 

Private hospitals need to act as importers of the vaccines and must register for their use.

This is designed to ensure that they take responsibility for its effectiveness and safety.

Criticism had been leveled at the FDA by a hospital for stalling the procurement of drugs that had already been approved for use. 

Other reports suggest that millions of people have said in hospital surveys that they are willing to pay privately for vaccinations, notes Thaivisa. 

This includes many expats in Thailand who are willing to pay for the service just as soon as it becomes available.

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-03-13

 

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39 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

But he said that the rules needed to be followed properly

What might they be...? ????

To put it quite simply the government does not want to lose face by having private hospitals beating it in the race to start mass vaccination. Total reliance on a single vaccine from a company that has a deplorable track record in Europe & the USA, plus allowing it to select a local manufacturing partner with no experience in vaccine production, and indeed no production facility until it recently started construction has put this country is at grave risk. Look at how Astra Zeneca has caused huge disruption to vaccination programmes and you clearly see what is hoing to happen here. And this will cause untold further damage to the tourism industry and the livelihood of millions. By using it's stranglehold on the actions of private hospitals further compounds the folly and prevents those willing to pay, and so save the country money, from obtaining critically needed medical services. Shame on the junta.

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

But he said that the rules needed to be followed properly, rules he said that were explained in detail at a meeting on March 8th. 

Rules = brown envelopes.

Is it not possible for Thailand to get just one thing right?

1 hour ago, brommers said:

To put it quite simply the government does not want to lose face by having private hospitals beating it in the race to start mass vaccination. Total reliance on a single vaccine from a company that has a deplorable track record in Europe & the USA, plus allowing it to select a local manufacturing partner with no experience in vaccine production, and indeed no production facility until it recently started construction has put this country is at grave risk. Look at how Astra Zeneca has caused huge disruption to vaccination programmes and you clearly see what is hoing to happen here. And this will cause untold further damage to the tourism industry and the livelihood of millions. By using it's stranglehold on the actions of private hospitals further compounds the folly and prevents those willing to pay, and so save the country money, from obtaining critically needed medical services. Shame on the junta.

A perfect description of what is happening while the peoples health and Thai economy take a backseat to junta politics.

Can you believe it?  Thailand cannot even organise a vaccine in a pandemic... lots of other countries jabbing away since January and here we are heading for April with those clowns still arguing about their petty rules.

1 hour ago, brommers said:

Look at how Astra Zeneca has caused huge disruption to vaccination programmes and you clearly see what is hoing to happen here.

Oh do tell. AZ vaccine has been already used to vaccinate a third of the population in the UK and continues apace. Don't blame the vaccines, blame the governments.

Just make it happen! These vaccines have been approved in the USA, UK and the EU.

What, Thailand knows better?

Pleeeeeeeaze!!!

2 minutes ago, brucegoniners said:

Just make it happen! These vaccines have been approved in the USA, UK and the EU.

What, Thailand knows better?

Pleeeeeeeaze!!!

AZ not approved in the US for protectionist reasons. Only expensive US manufactured vaccines allowed there.

Come on. Of course this is being unnecessarily delayed. It is sheer nonsense. This was an utterly ridiculous and intensely cowardly decision. Out of millions of people, a random number would develop these conditions. There is no science behind the panic. Only fear and ignorance. I would take this vaccine right now. The vastly incompetent authorities here just don't get it. They are NOT prioritizing the vaccine. And the economy is devastated. But a large part of the problem stems from having multi-millionaire leaders. Tone deaf to the needs of the nation would be an understatement.

Unfortunately, at this rate, tourism will take many years to rebound, leaving millions out of work. Perhaps 300,000 tourists the remainder or this year, IF the quarantine is lifted, one to two million in 2022, if there are NO restrictions, and two to four million in 2023. After that all bets are off. I would guess no more than 5 million a year, from 2024 to 2027. Tourism will NEVER be the same here. Ever again. Gone, baby gone. At least a trillion dollars in infrastructure down the drain. 

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

Is it not possible for Thailand to get just one thing right?

Er!  Can I phone a friend or perhaps take away two wrong answers?

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

FDA chief denies private vaccine rollout is being unnessarily delayed

People do assume they are delaying a private vaccine rollout. If Thailand wanted to, they would approve it in less than a minute. Instead they sanctimoniously speak of following rules. Yes RULES, here in Thailand of all places.

Given the company Astrazeneca has partnered with, to produce the vaccine. There are lots of questions regarding the project & timeline, that cannot be asked, or even talked about. In such a situation, having other vaccines undergo a lengthy approval process, buys more time. If that is what you want. 

Meanwhile, back to chewing paint off the wall. 

 

 

3 hours ago, polpott said:

AZ not approved in the US for protectionist reasons. Only expensive US manufactured vaccines allowed there.

 

Is is that, or perhaps the fact that AZ itself hasn't actually applied for an EUA (Emergency Use Authorization) in the U.S. as yet, nor completed its Phase III trial results thus far?  Hard to gain approval when you haven't actually sought it yet.

 

AstraZeneca to seek U.S. authorization for COVID-19 vaccine this month or early next - sources

CHICAGO (Reuters) - AstraZeneca Plc is preparing to file for U.S. emergency use authorization (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine later this month or early April after accumulating enough data to judge the inoculation’s efficacy, sources with knowledge of the ongoing clinical trial told Reuters on Friday.

The British drugmaker completed enrollment in its trial of more than 32,000 volunteers in January and now has data on at least 150 cases of COVID-19, two sources familiar with the trial told Reuters.

...

“The U.S. Phase III study results are necessary for the FDA’s evaluation of an EUA request for our vaccine,” a company spokeswoman said, without confirming trial details being reported by Reuters. “We expect data from our U.S. Phase III trial to be available soon, in the coming weeks, and we plan to file for emergency use authorization shortly thereafter.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-astrazeneca-exclus/exclusive-astrazeneca-to-seek-u-s-authorization-for-covid-19-vaccine-this-month-or-early-next-sources-idUSKBN2B42JN

 

3 hours ago, polpott said:

AZ not approved in the US for protectionist reasons. Only expensive US manufactured vaccines allowed there.

Who cares?

The vaccine is free for US residents.

8 hours ago, brommers said:

To put it quite simply the government does not want to lose face by having private hospitals beating it in the race to start mass vaccination. Total reliance on a single vaccine from a company that has a deplorable track record in Europe & the USA, plus allowing it to select a local manufacturing partner with no experience in vaccine production, and indeed no production facility until it recently started construction has put this country is at grave risk. Look at how Astra Zeneca has caused huge disruption to vaccination programmes and you clearly see what is hoing to happen here. And this will cause untold further damage to the tourism industry and the livelihood of millions. By using it's stranglehold on the actions of private hospitals further compounds the folly and prevents those willing to pay, and so save the country money, from obtaining critically needed medical services. Shame on the junta.

Absolutely agree with the first part, Thai government is fearful of private hospitals putting their vaccine programme to shame and out performing the pitiful 3000 vaccines administered per day.

Utter nonsense.

23 hours ago, JoePai said:

Is it not possible for Thailand to get just one thing right?

Not when you have a "government" with an unelected Military Academy educated "PM" in charge with a few soldiers dancing to his tune.

It would be a bad look - and appearance/perception is all that really matters here in most cases - for the higher classes to be getting vaccinated. 

The proles would get restless.

 

 

By rules he means envelopes must be forthcoming and perhaps the Pharma companies aren't playing ball.

Could you imagine the embarrassment:

"Entire Westerner Population of Thailand Fully Immunised Within Two Months of Access to Vaccines Through Private Hospitals While Thai Government Still Claims to be Carrying Out Tests Before They Can Begin Vaccinating Their People"

My Mrs is saying Thais are getting upset that retired army generals golf caddy's should be prioritized for vaccine what a cluster this will be ????