Government supporting vaccine acquisition by private hospitals

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has discussed acquiring alternative COVID-19 vaccines with the operators of private hospitals to further enhance public confidence in availability but has asked the public to continue to exercise preventative measures at this time.

 

Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha disclosed in a press conference today, following discussions with the Ministry of Public Health, medical councils and private hospitals, that many non-government facilities are still contending with obstacles in acquiring COVID-19 vaccines despite efforts by the government to ease the process, pointing out that much of the hindrance is due to foreign protocols.

 

A committee to assist in acquiring alternative vaccinations led by CCSA Advisor Dr. Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn has been setup to speed up the effort and to signal government support for private acquisition of vaccines. Furthermore, the PM indicated legal hurdles will continue to be removed and the government will facilitate communications with producers.

 

The PM gave an assurance that the government is working at its utmost to provide vaccinations, saying that another 1.5 million doses will arrive this month and that the state is supportive of private acquisition.

"We are proceeding toward alternative vaccines, which should be helpful to hospitals still in need of doses. Nonetheless, it will be dependent on producers, which we must speak with. We have to discuss principles and legal matters. I welcome private hospitals indicating that they

 

1. Wish to acquire vaccines in aid of the state, a course of action we have not blocked as we have registered many entities and vaccines, which themselves have experienced import problems that need to be addressed not just by us but by foreign parties

 

2. That they have an approach to gaining Food and Drug Administration approval for their alternative vaccines, which could take some time and

 

3. That they consider how much vaccine is on the way, as in April we will receive another 1.5 million doses”

 

On several private hospitals no longer testing for COVID-19 due to insufficient resources, the PM said more field hospitals will be setup to address demand and avoid outbreaks within hospitals, especially among medical workers.

 

The Prime Minister reiterated that citizens must be wary and adhere to safety protocols, avoiding risky locations. He acknowledged Songkran holiday reunions and asked that all people avoid crowds, asking for similar care to be taken during the coming period of Ramadan.

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2021-04-09

 

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[YetAnother]

4 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Nonetheless, it will be dependent on producers, which we must speak with. We have to discuss principles and legal matters. I welcome private hospitals

all of this could have been avoided if thailand had signed up , with other developing countries, in the group buy-in program;

thailand DIDNT

[Bkk Brian]

3 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

On several private hospitals no longer testing for COVID-19 due to insufficient resources, the PM said more field hospitals will be setup to address demand and avoid outbreaks within hospitals, especially among medical workers.

So completely ignored the question on the shortage of tests, I'm surprised he didn't have a bunch of bananas to throw at the reporter who asked that.

[mtls2005]

19 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

A committee to assist in acquiring alternative vaccinations led by CCSA Advisor Dr. Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn has been setup

 

Thank goodness.

 

Was wondering where the requisite committee was in all this.

 

I feel so much better.

 

 

[bdenner]

So after all the BS the good general has negotiated his "Brown Envelope" contents so as the private sector can try to bring some end to HIS calamity.

[realfunster]

Just keep in mind, it’s around 15 months since COVID appeared.

Around 12 months since we knew it was a big problem.

Around 6 months since we knew it was a major problem.

 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

We have to discuss principles and legal matters.

 

Sigh.....

[candide]

We can be relieved now. The hi-so will be vaccinated!

Edited April 9, 2021 by candide

[w94005m]

The hospital I spoke with said that the Thai FDA were refusing their requests to pursue vaccine overseas

[WHansen]

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/international/thai-virologist-breaks-down-why-private-sector-cant-procure-covid-19-vaccines

 

An extract from the above article 09/03/2021

 

"Thai virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan has stepped in to explain why private companies are not yet allowed to import Covid-19 vaccine to Thailand.

On March 8, the Chulalongkorn University professor responded via Facebook to people inquiring why private companies and hospitals could not procure their own vaccine.

 

He explained that the Thai and other governments around the world had registered Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use. This meant responsibility for any side effects from inoculation lay with the government, not the vaccine producers.

Therefore, Covid-19 vaccine can only be imported under the government’s contract.

 

Currently, vaccine producers will not negotiate with private purchasers who have no government authorisation.

However, Dr Yong said private companies will be permitted to export shots once Covid-19 vaccines are fully registered, with responsibility for any side effects passed to the producers."

 

Maybe the vaccine producers are reluctant to be held responsible for serious side effects and this is slowing down the process ?

[animatic]

40 minutes ago, WHansen said:

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/international/thai-virologist-breaks-down-why-private-sector-cant-procure-covid-19-vaccines

 

An extract from the above article 09/03/2021

 

"Thai virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan has stepped in to explain why private companies are not yet allowed to import Covid-19 vaccine to Thailand.

On March 8, the Chulalongkorn University professor responded via Facebook to people inquiring why private companies and hospitals could not procure their own vaccine.

 

He explained that the Thai and other governments around the world had registered Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use. This meant responsibility for any side effects from inoculation lay with the government, not the vaccine producers.

Therefore, Covid-19 vaccine can only be imported under the government’s contract.

 

Currently, vaccine producers will not negotiate with private purchasers who have no government authorisation.

However, Dr Yong said private companies will be permitted to export shots once Covid-19 vaccines are fully registered, with responsibility for any side effects passed to the producers."

 

Maybe the vaccine producers are reluctant to be held responsible for serious side effects and this is slowing down the process ?

So, authorize them YESTERDAY~~~~

[khunjeff]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

That they consider how much vaccine is on the way, as in April we will receive another 1.5 million doses”

 

It's adorable that he thinks 1.5 million doses in a month is an impressive number for a country with 70 million people.

[mtls2005]

12 hours ago, WHansen said:

However, Dr Yong said private companies will be permitted to export shots once Covid-19 vaccines are fully registered

 

The horse will be long dead by then. But yes, by all means, close that barn door.

 

Hoenstly, it's a different excuse every day.

 

This lot staged a coup and took over the country in what, less than 12 hours.

 

But getting a vaccine, oh my, we must follow the "rules".

 

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Furthermore, the PM indicated legal hurdles will continue to be removed and the government will facilitate communications with producers.

Hub of hurdles.

[Kenneth White]

This is worth two thumbs up. I prefer using a private hospital for the COVID vaccination.

[connda]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) has discussed acquiring alternative COVID-19 vaccines with the operators of private hospitals to further enhance public confidence in availability but has asked the public to continue to exercise preventative measures at this time.

In the UK about 48% of the UK population have receive a first vaccine with approximately 545,500 daily vaccination.  Thailand and the UK have similar population sizes and both have vaccine manufacturing facilities (the UK's is operational), hence the comparison.

Thailand with an AstraZenaca manufacturing facility (not producing vaccines for use at this time) has managed to order 2,000,000 doses from overseas which are administered to special people.  The general population, however, waits for the glacial Thai FDA approval process for vaccines that can be offered by private hospitals - now crawling along as slow as a slug, but blame the delays on the vaccine manufacturers whose vaccines are approved for use in other countries globally.
Realistically the approval process should be fast-tracked for vaccines currently being used around the world.
It would be the ultimate irony when tourists who have been vaccinated with vaccines that are approved for tourists visiting Thailand start arriving before Thailand approves the same vaccines for domestic use though private hospitals.  ????

In the meantime we hear from the Halls of Rarefied Air and Lofty Pronouncement that Thais should be on guard - all the while allowing Thais from Covid hot-spots to travel at their leisure to any province in Thailand that will allow them in - which is essentially allowing the spread of SARS-Cov-2 from areas of high viral concentrations and cases into the rest of the uncontaminated country.

When the next major wave hits - the public will be blamed for not following the government's advice.
The central government role in allowing unimpeded travel leading to the spread of of SARS-Cov-2 from high concentrations of cases through the rest of Thailand will be ignored.

Honestly, this is more entertaining than a fiction novel about a novel virus.

 

Edited April 10, 2021 by connda

[Kenneth White]

17 hours ago, realfunster said:

Just keep in mind, it’s around 15 months since COVID appeared.

Around 12 months since we knew it was a big problem.

Around 6 months since we knew it was a major problem.

 

 

Sigh.....

 

3 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

The horse will be long dead by then. But yes, by all means, close that barn door.

 

Hoenstly, it's a different excuse every day.

 

This lot staged a coup and took over the country in what, less than 12 hours.

 

But getting a vaccine, oh my, we must follow the "rules".

 

 

 

 

Sounds like someone wants to get paid for allowing others the given right to purchase much needed medicine, kind of like the FDA in America.

[WaveHunter]

How come the mass media is not directly addressing WHEN expats will become eligible for vaccination?  Even media directed specifically at expats like Thaiger and Pattaya News seems to skirt around the question with really vague  references.  It sure would be nice to have even a rough idea of WHEN.

[WaveHunter]

As much as I admire how Thailand has handled the situation over the past year that prevented a major spread within the Kingdom, it seem to me that the way they are handling the vaccine roll out is, quite frankly, atrocious! 

 

The only way to end this pandemic is through herd immunity, and the only way for that to occur is through at least 70% of the population being vaccinated, and that means getting it done AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

 

Mass vaccinations should be primary goal right now, and yet there is all of this procrastination by authorities.  Some will argue these are safety issues that are being debated but I really think that's a bunch of nonsense!  It seems that there is something curiously political about all of this, and now that we are on the verge of a THIRD wave, it just seems very irresponsible and dangerous for these political games to continue, and the roll-out to be at a snail's pace! 

 

Some are saying that at the rate things are going, it could take two years to reach herd immunity here in the Kingdom.  If that is the case, it may take years, if not decades for the economy to recover.  Personally, I think that in the final analysis, and with hindsight, the real crisis of this pandemic will be an economic one if decisive actions are not taken right now.

 

Private hospitals should ALREADY be stocked and administering. Who should really care whether they will be charging for it or not?  The whole purpose of vaccination is not for individual protection but more importantly for protection of the entire population as a whole, and anything that will speed this along should be done without all of the political nonsense that seem to be going on right now.

Edited April 10, 2021 by WaveHunter

[placnx]

17 hours ago, WHansen said:

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/international/thai-virologist-breaks-down-why-private-sector-cant-procure-covid-19-vaccines

 

An extract from the above article 09/03/2021

 

"Thai virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan has stepped in to explain why private companies are not yet allowed to import Covid-19 vaccine to Thailand.

On March 8, the Chulalongkorn University professor responded via Facebook to people inquiring why private companies and hospitals could not procure their own vaccine.

 

He explained that the Thai and other governments around the world had registered Covid-19 vaccines for emergency use. This meant responsibility for any side effects from inoculation lay with the government, not the vaccine producers.

Therefore, Covid-19 vaccine can only be imported under the government’s contract.

 

Currently, vaccine producers will not negotiate with private purchasers who have no government authorisation.

However, Dr Yong said private companies will be permitted to export shots once Covid-19 vaccines are fully registered, with responsibility for any side effects passed to the producers."

 

Maybe the vaccine producers are reluctant to be held responsible for serious side effects and this is slowing down the process ?

Pfizer may asking for full approval  from US FDA in the first half of this year:

https://www.statnews.com/2021/03/25/pfizer-and-biontech-to-begin-testing-covid-19-vaccine-in-children/

[Soikhaonoiken]

14 hours ago, connda said:

In the UK about 48% of the UK population have receive a first vaccine with approximately 545,500 daily vaccination.  Thailand and the UK have similar population sizes and both have vaccine manufacturing facilities (the UK's is operational), hence the comparison.

Thailand with an AstraZenaca manufacturing facility (not producing vaccines for use at this time) has managed to order 2,000,000 doses from overseas which are administered to special people.  The general population, however, waits for the glacial Thai FDA approval process for vaccines that can be offered by private hospitals - now crawling along as slow as a slug, but blame the delays on the vaccine manufacturers whose vaccines are approved for use in other countries globally.
Realistically the approval process should be fast-tracked for vaccines currently being used around the world.
It would be the ultimate irony when tourists who have been vaccinated with vaccines that are approved for tourists visiting Thailand start arriving before Thailand approves the same vaccines for domestic use though private hospitals.  ????

In the meantime we hear from the Halls of Rarefied Air and Lofty Pronouncement that Thais should be on guard - all the while allowing Thais from Covid hot-spots to travel at their leisure to any province in Thailand that will allow them in - which is essentially allowing the spread of SARS-Cov-2 from areas of high viral concentrations and cases into the rest of the uncontaminated country.

When the next major wave hits - the public will be blamed for not following the government's advice.
The central government role in allowing unimpeded travel leading to the spread of of SARS-Cov-2 from high concentrations of cases through the rest of Thailand will be ignored.

Honestly, this is more entertaining than a fiction novel about a novel virus.

 

Well said connda,  the Government should be saying stay at home... 

Not travel.. 

[Jingthing]

7 hours ago, rken2 said:

Personally I think its great that Thailand is rolling out the vaccine slowly, allow us to see the results of the safety and efficacy of the for emergency use only vaccines. It may end up saving more lives then are lost do to its limited availability

Maybe send that excuse to the officials responsible. Sounds more like a lipstick on a pig excuse than a good rationale to me. 

[WaveHunter]

15 hours ago, rken2 said:

Personally I think its great that Thailand is rolling out the vaccine slowly, allow us to see the results of the safety and efficacy of the for emergency use only vaccines. It may end up saving more lives then are lost do to its limited availability

The efficacy and safety of the vaccines are already being demonstrated in other countries that are using a far more aggressive approach to vaccine roll outs. 

 

In many countries around the world, they are fast approaching the magic "70%" immunization level that leads to herd immunity.  In Thailand, the surface has barely been scratched, and many experts say that it could be two years before herd immunity is reached here unless a far more aggressive approach is adopted!

 

I really don't see why there is a need for Thailand to do their own studies of efficacy and safety when it's already being demonstrated all over the world.  That is nonsense! 

 

These endless debates like whether or not private hospitals should be allowed to procure and distribute vaccines is also just nonsense at a time when everything that brings the Kingdom closer to herd immunity should be aggressively pursued .

 

It all seems a little suspicious that this is not about efficacy and safety, but rather there are some unstated but obvious political underpinning to the slow roll-out here in the Kingdom.

 

Thailand may be one of the safest countries in the world right now in terms of susceptibility to contracting the virus, but it is also one of the most vulnerable countries in terms of the economic repercussion of this pandemic.  To me, THAT is the real concern and every day that goes by, just makes it a bigger and more long lasting crisis.  So, FAST and unobstructed vaccine roll out should be the paramount goal.

Edited April 11, 2021 by WaveHunter

[WaveHunter]

FAST and unobstructed vaccine roll out should be the name of the game here in Thailand right now, not this "analysis paralysis" about safety and efficacy! 

 

Safety and efficacy are already being proved all around the world!  Officials should just stop with all these silly excuses that have strong, self-serving political underpinnings, and just get on with it!

 

With the third wave (UK-variant) supposedly upon us, and a potential fourth wave on the way, you'd think that a fast and unobstructed vaccine roll-out would be obvious.  Why isn't it?

Edited April 11, 2021 by WaveHunter

[starky]

On 4/10/2021 at 3:34 PM, Kenneth White said:

This is worth two thumbs up. I prefer using a private hospital for the COVID vaccination.

Luckily your in a privileged enough position to be able to have that choice whilst most of the Thai citizens who should be looked after well before any foreigners in this country unfortunately won't be that lucky. Oh well as long as your alright Jack.

[metisdead]

Some troll posts have been removed. 

[internationalism]

on some other thread forum member claims he was promised by a doctor at private hospital unnamed vax for 15k sometimes in June. It would be AZ or sinovac.

a few days ago a doctor responsible for vax import at some private hospital said that he expects sputnik in early june, moderna in august and j&j in october (that was before the most most recent hiccups).

 

today only 778 injections were given, which looks like a deliberate way of forcing patients to go private

[Kenneth White]

On 4/15/2021 at 6:20 AM, starky said:

Luckily your in a privileged enough position to be able to have that choice whilst most of the Thai citizens who should be looked after well before any foreigners in this country unfortunately won't be that lucky. Oh well as long as your alright Jack.

Maybe you should change your name to snarky, Jack! I am neither privileged or rich, I thought it was a good idea for the private hospitals to administer the vaccination in an effort to get the vaccination process don't more quickly. And yes I would prefer a private hospital. 

[starky]

17 minutes ago, Kenneth White said:

Maybe you should change your name to snarky, Jack! I am neither privileged or rich, I thought it was a good idea for the private hospitals to administer the vaccination in an effort to get the vaccination process don't more quickly. And yes I would prefer a private hospital. 

Splitting hairs if you can afford to get vaccinated at a private hospital I would consider you far more privileged than the majority of Thai people, who should be prioritised for vaccination before anyone else.

   I would also like to see private hospitals roll out vaccination programs as its probably the only way foreigners in Thailand will be able to receive it.