Government provides ฿2.8bn to private and public agencies to develop COVID-19 vaccines

[Jonathan Fairfield]

 

The Thai government has provided about 2.8 billion baht in funding to nine state and private agencies for their research, development and production of anti-viral vaccines, with the aim of turning Thailand into the regional hub of vaccine production.

 

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said today (Saturday) that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attached importance to supporting the capability of Thailand, in the research and development of COVID-19 vaccines, by setting aside an initial fund of 1.8 billion baht last December.

 

He said that the government has now set aside an additional 995 million baht for the National Vaccine Institute, to be distributed to three agencies, to make preparations for technology transfer in the production of COVID-19.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/government-provides-฿2-8bn-to-private-and-public-agencies-to-develop-covid-19-vaccines/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-06-06

 

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[mtls2005]

I'm often (always?) critical of the regime, but this looks like a long-term prudent long-term investment. 

 

 

 

"Additionally, the Government Pharmaceutical Organization-Merieuk Biological Products Company is to increase their vaccine production capacity to an industrial level, to handle domestic production of vaccines.

 

The second amount of 995 million baht is split between:

 

596 million baht for Siam Bioscience for the production of the AstraZeneca vaccine

33.79 million baht for the National Primate Research Centre of Chulalongkorn University
365 million baht for the Vaccine Research Centre at the Faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University

 

Anucha said that the funding for Siam Bioscience will be returned to the government in the form of vaccines, equivalent to the amount of funding it receives from the taxpayer."

[Excel]

And exactly how much of that 28 billion THB will end up in certain peoples pockets I wonder ?

[colinneil]

 

26 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

overnment spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said today (Saturday) that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha attached importance to supporting the capability of Thailand,

Importance???? My backside, only thing he cares about is himself, hanging on to power by what ever means possible, both legal and otherwise, and his MASSIVE offshore accounts.

[faraday]

"Hub"

 

????

 

[ICELANDMAN]

Why did I read the same public announcement a year ago?

[ezzra]

55 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

2.8 billion baht in funding to nine state and private agencies for their research, development and production of anti-viral vaccines, with the aim of turning Thailand into the regional hub of vaccine

Now they have decided to invest to " research, development and production" isn't a bit too late for that? isn't there like a dozen other international companies that has the vaccine already and thie products are or can be be available with one phone call?... and you wonder why people in Thailand still getting sick by the thousands and dozens dying on a daily basis...

[wasabi]

Any good leader knows when to insource and when to outsource. At this time it seems wiser to outsource vaccine procurement and insource fixing the Thai economy. 

[jacko45k]

Another 'hub' claim.... that word is getting overused.

Have they not noticed that there are already several vaccines out there....

It is rather late in the pandemic, and there appears to have been issues with the AZ domestic manufacturing causing delays (putting lives at risk).  This money might be better served to buying in vaccines from overseas, and helping those who are without income due to the measures undertaken.

Edited June 6, 2021 by jacko45k

[petermik]

7 hours ago, ezzra said:

Now they have decided to invest to " research, development and production" isn't a bit too late for that? isn't there like a dozen other international companies that has the vaccine already and thie products are or can be be available with one phone call?... and you wonder why people in Thailand still getting sick by the thousands and dozens dying on a daily basis...

Absolutely...this should have started 12 months ago...vaccines are needed here like yesterday,a reported 4 million folk here have received their first shots....there are close on 70 million people living here needing 2 shots apiece.....it`s not rocket science Uncle P.

[rabas]

 

This is more evidence that Prayut and Mr. Sino-Anutin have been on opposite sides of the fence. 

 

Glad to see Chulalongkorn's mRNA vaccine in the list.

 

[4MyEgo]

6 minutes ago, petermik said:

Absolutely...this should have started 12 months ago...vaccines are needed here like yesterday,a reported 4 million folk here have received their first shots....there are close on 70 million people living here needing 2 shots apiece.....it`s not rocket science Uncle P.

 

If we take kids out of the equation, how many does that leave ?

[clivebaxter]

Re inventing the wheel as usual, more for the sake of national pride than health care. Cash would be better spent now on vaccines already being produced.

[thequietman]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

turning Thailand into the regional hub of vaccine production.

Hub hub hubbity hub de hub de hub de hub.  ????

[mtls2005]

5 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

If we take kids out of the equation, how many does that leave ?

 

Define kids. 12 and under?

 

Just make a simple assumption, equal age distribution, and avg life expectency, then do the math.

 

55 - 60 MM?

 

 

[Excel]

11 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

If we take kids out of the equation, how many does that leave ?

Children accounted for 16.6% of the population in 2020. So let's say that leaves 59 million. Of those one third live in Isan which the government has no wish to help so that leaves 39 million. The latest estimates are that there are in the region of 13 million people over 60 so they are now too old to be exploited by the HISOs so we can omit them also, that leaves 23 million. Now a short time ago there was a report that 1 in 10 people have mental health issues in Thailand. Well whilst that percentage appears to be much higher amongst the government officials let's take it at face values and assume nut cases are not worthy of protection so that gets the total down to 20.7 million. Now on average it is assessed that between 70to 80% of the population are asymptomatic so hence will never go for testing, well why should they if they feel OK ? and combined with no real government random testing will never be discovered so lets exclude 75% of them also. We are now down to 5.1 million . Now "petermilk" in a previous post stated that 4 million had already been vaccinated so hence this now leaves 1.1 million. It is estimated that at anyone time there are between 700000 and 750000 Thais working and living overseas so that reduces the total even further to say 350,000. Now  with around 345,000 prisoners , who no one cares about anyway we reach a new target to be vaccinated of 5,000 in round figures. Hence there are adequate supply of vaccines and will all be jabbed by lunchtime tomorrow perhaps.????????  Well done the Czar.

[4MyEgo]

4 minutes ago, Excel said:

Children accounted for 16.6% of the population in 2020. So let's say that leaves 59 million. Of those one third live in Isan which the government has no wish to help so that leaves 39 million. The latest estimates are that there are in the region of 13 million people over 60 so they are now too old to be exploited by the HISOs so we can omit them also, that leaves 23 million. Now a short time ago there was a report that 1 in 10 people have mental health issues in Thailand. Well whilst that percentage appears to be much higher amongst the government officials let's take it at face values and assume nut cases are not worthy of protection so that gets the total down to 20.7 million. Now on average it is assessed that between 70to 80% of the population are asymptomatic so hence will never go for testing, well why should they if they feel OK ? and combined with no real government random testing will never be discovered so lets exclude 75% of them also. We are now down to 5.1 million . Now "petermilk" in a previous post stated that 4 million had already been vaccinated so hence this now leaves 1.1 million. It is estimated that at anyone time there are between 700000 and 750000 Thais working and living overseas so that reduces the total even further to say 350,000. Now  with around 345,000 prisoners , who no one cares about anyway we reach a new target to be vaccinated of 5,000 in round figures. Hence there are adequate supply of vaccines and will all be jabbed by lunchtime tomorrow perhaps.????????  Well done the Czar.

 

Boy am I glad you had your 1st dose of coffee this morning..... ????

 

 

[Excel]

1 minute ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

Boy am I glad you had your 1st dose of coffee this morning..... ????

 

 

Don't drink it mate, tea for me, makes me more creative ????????????????

[jaltsc]

w

[jaltsc]

"The Thai government has provided about 2.8 billion baht in funding to nine state and private agencies..."

 

What a round about way to stimulate the Mercedes market. 

[Nojohndoe]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Now they have decided to invest to " research, development and production" isn't a bit too late for that? isn't there like a dozen other international companies that has the vaccine already and thie products are or can be be available with one phone call?... and you wonder why people in Thailand still getting sick by the thousands and dozens dying on a daily basis...

Given that the proposal for a global waiver on covid vaccine IP has been buried perhaps the idea is not so wrong? If the investment is made on local production with the outcome a return by way of vaccines IMO is feasible. It is already accepted that Covid-19 is not  going to go away any more than influenza has so with the funding for facilities at very least Thailand will not be so much at the mercy of others.

[wensiensheng]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

 

If we take kids out of the equation, how many does that leave ?

Google suggests about 8.7 teenagers in Thailand. So about 62 mil or so?

[Surelynot]

2 hours ago, Excel said:

And exactly how much of that 28 billion THB will end up in certain peoples pockets I wonder ?

A recent analysis indicated as much as 93 out of every 100 baht doesn't serve its intended purpose.

[Surelynot]

2 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

nine state and private agencies for their research,

Would you have spread things so thin?

 

I would have thought two running side by side would be adequate......but nine?

[connda]

Translated:
Jamming Covid vaccines into the arms of a captured public will make billions of THB in profits forever.

So it's easy to see where the Covid narrative will be going.
It will never ever be allowed to end.  Covie will be the boogieman waiting to just outside your door ready to jump you - forever.

[herfiehandbag]

4 hours ago, ICELANDMAN said:

Why did I read the same public announcement a year ago?

Well that money will have been used or disbursed, perhaps in some remarkably innovative, informal and possibly less than completely accounted ways. Those involved with the business have probably identified a need for further funding as the "taps"are running dry - I'm sorry, I meant an imperative for significant further investment has been discovered, which will in time realise great benefits to society.

Edited June 6, 2021 by herfiehandbag

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

with the aim of turning Thailand into the regional hub of vaccine production.

Hello posters. Any tips for cleaning coffee out of PC keyboards?

[KiaSurean]

What's the point of spending so much money whe Thailand is so far behind the vaccine race? Isn't it better to use the money for those lower income earners affected by the pandemic and spend it to hasten the vaccination pace? 

[smi11ie]

Would love to analyse how exactly that money will be spent but I aleady know.  Some lucky peeps are going shopping at cartier.

Edited June 6, 2021 by smi11ie

[Caldera]

Developing a Thai vaccine sounds like a waste of money to me. Too late and probably not on par with what's already available.

 

It would be better to make a deal to produce Pfizer or Moderna locally. Even for that, they're a bit late to the game.