Agreement signed for donation of 1.05m doses of AstraZeneca vaccine by Japan to Thailand

[webfact]

Photo: Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

An agreement was signed, between the Thai and Japanese governments today (Tuesday), for the donation by Japan of 1.05 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, with the delivery to Thailand scheduled on July 9th.

 

Signing the agreement were Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai and Ambassador of Japan to Thailand Kazuya Nashida, with officials from Thailand’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Public Health, as well as from Embassy of Japan in Thailand present.

 

The agreement bars the Thai government from using the vaccine for military purposes and from transferring it to other governments, individuals or agencies without consent from the Japanese government, while requiring the Thai side to pay for the transport and to disclose information on administration of the vaccine when asked, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/agreement-signed-for-donation-of-1-05m-doses-of-astrazeneca-vaccine-by-japan-to-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-06-30

 

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[RichardColeman]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

The agreement bars the Thai government from using the vaccine for military purposes and from transferring it to other governments, individuals or agencies without consent from the Japanese government

Sorry, but I have very little faith that agreement will be kept

[smedly]

destined for those that need it or to keep Japanese factories rolling

 

I know the answer already (IMO)

[nkg]

 

Well done Japan. Nice to see vaccines being donated by a wealthy nation.

[meechai]

1 hour ago, nkg said:

 

Well done Japan. Nice to see vaccines being donated by a wealthy nation.

 

Yes but...They are giving away what they do not want to use on themselves...does that not make some wonder?

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/COVID-vaccines/120m-AstraZeneca-shots-caught-in-Japan-s-regulatory-limbo

[faraday]

Why is AZ being donated, when there is SB allegedly producing it?

 

 

[nkg]

31 minutes ago, meechai said:

 

Yes but...They are giving away what they do not want to use on themselves...does that not make some wonder?

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/COVID-vaccines/120m-AstraZeneca-shots-caught-in-Japan-s-regulatory-limbo

 

 

Not really. Several countries have decided not to use all of their supplies of AZ, or to limit their use to certain age groups. This is linked to the widely-publicised blood clotting issue

 

Does this mean that the AZ vaccine is worthless? No. If it is a choice between AZ, a less effective vaccine, or no vaccine at all, AZ is incredibly valuable.

 

 

[nkg]

54 minutes ago, faraday said:

Why is AZ being donated, when there is SB allegedly producing it?

 

 

 

 

Japan imported tens of millions of doses of AZ from the US in March, which have a limited shelf life. Since they don't plan on using it themselves, donating them to other Asian countries seems like a sensible plan.

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-gets-astrazeneca-vaccine-from-us-after-eu-export-ban-2021-4?r=US&IR=T

 

Edited June 29, 2021 by nkg

[DLock]

3 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Sorry, but I have very little faith that agreement will be kept

 

The fact that Japan needed an agreement to donate vaccines says a lot in itself.

 

[clarky cat]

Hopefully this will be used as part of the free vaccine campaign and not sent straight to the private hospitals 

[wensiensheng]

16 minutes ago, clarky cat said:

Hopefully this will be used as part of the free vaccine campaign and not sent straight to the private hospitals 

So far, private hospitals haven’t received a single vial of vaccine, free or otherwise. I don’t think they will be just handed this small amount.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The agreement bars the Thai government from using the vaccine for military purposes and from transferring it to other governments, individuals or agencies without consent from the Japanese government, while requiring the Thai side to pay for the transport and to disclose information on administration of the vaccine when asked, said Deputy Government Spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.

I see Japan has learnt a lot from doing business with Thailand over the years.

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, faraday said:

Why is AZ being donated, when there is SB allegedly producing it?

 

 

They got their orders in early in Japan ..... SB weren't quite  on schedule. 

[bkk6060]

The U.S. never approved it and has been giving away 60 million doses.

Probably part of the freebies from the U.S.

Nice of Japan to share it.

[mtls2005]

4 hours ago, smedly said:

destined for those that need it or to keep Japanese factories rolling

 

Already manufactured, and Japan decided not t use it - they're going with PFizer and Moderna.

 

 

 

Every little bit helps, and Thailand is desperarate. Thank you Japan for donating these vaccines.

 

 

[Nanaplaza666]

4 hours ago, nkg said:

 

Well done Japan. Nice to see vaccines being donated by a wealthy nation.

Well done by Japan , but this is exactly what mr P and mr A have been waiting for . Free vaccines so they can pocket all the money that was put aside for ordering vaccines themselfs . My geuss also is that they thought they had everything under controle at the beginning and started to pocket already and where a bit short at 1 moment so tjat's why all the lies about having enough for everyone . 

[mtls2005]

49 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

So far, private hospitals haven’t received a single vial of vaccine, free or otherwise.

 

Bumrungrad has been administering AstraZeneca vaccines. They have to have gotten these from "the government".

 

 

Edited June 30, 2021 by mtls2005

[kamahele]

Thank you Japan

[wensiensheng]

7 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Bumrungrad has been administering AstraZeneca vaccines. They have to have gotten these from "the government".

 

 

I didn’t know that. Thanks for the info. ????

[nkg]

30 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

The U.S. never approved it and has been giving away 60 million doses.

Probably part of the freebies from the U.S.

Nice of Japan to share it.

 

 

From what I've read, Japan were supposed to get their AZ deliveries in January from the EU. But the EU blocked those exports, so Japan went to the US who were able to export some of their AZ to Japan in March. The US didn't start talking about giving away their AZ stocks until June if my memory serves me correctly.

 

I'm pretty sure that Japan are giving away their own paid-for and delivered AZ vaccines ????

 

Looking forward to the US's own AZ giveaway, although apparently they only have 60 million doses to donate, and I'm sure South America will be the main beneficiary.

 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2021 by nkg

[Devil in a Bush]

2 hours ago, nkg said:

 

 

Japan imported tens of millions of doses of AZ from the US in March, which have a limited shelf life. Since they don't plan on using it themselves, donating them to other Asian countries seems like a sensible plan.

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-gets-astrazeneca-vaccine-from-us-after-eu-export-ban-2021-4?r=US&IR=T

 

That totally make sense.

[mtls2005]

11 minutes ago, nkg said:

I'm pretty sure that Japan are giving away their own paid-for and delivered AZ vaccines ????

 

No way to know this. But it would make sense to give away these as they are older.

 

Is this "re-gifting"?

 

Japan signed a deal with AZ and two local partners, Daiichi Sankyo and KM Biologics,  to produce 120 MM doses in Japan.

 

Vaccine can last up to 6 months.

 

 

 

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, faraday said:

Why is AZ being donated, when there is SB allegedly producing it?

 

 

It may be the issue is not producing sufficient AZ but to whom it will be sent.

Nov. 2020:

https://abc27.com/news/health/thailand-sells-supply-deals-for-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine/

But now seems corporate uncertainty as to its foreign/domestic distribution plans:

June 2021:

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/first-astrazeneca-vaccine-exports-thailand-philippines-delayed-govt-advisor-2021-06-01/

 

[clivebaxter]

37 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Bumrungrad has been administering AstraZeneca vaccines. They have to have gotten these from "the government".

 

 

 

Of course they did they are part of the government roll out the same as other private hospitals, if you booked on mor prom app you could have selected it for free vaccinations if in Bkk. Odd that Thailand are accepting charity AZ, while at the same time they are meant to be producing their own in large enough amounts to to sell to other countries 

Edited June 30, 2021 by clivebaxter

[nkg]

2 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

No way to know this. But it would make sense to give away these as they are older.

 

Is this "re-gifting"?

 

Japan signed a deal with AZ and two local partners, Daiichi Sankyo and KM Biologics,  to produce 120 MM doses in Japan.

 

Vaccine can last up to 6 months.

 

 

 

 

 

Well, it's a matter of record that they have tens of millions of doses of AZ bought from the US months ago. The 120M doses to be "locally produced" are being manufactured from US source materials.

 

It's entirely possible that Asian countries (including Thailand) will be offered substantial amounts of Japanese-manufactured AZ at cost price, should Japan have enough Pfizer and Moderna for their own populace.

[mtls2005]

3 minutes ago, nkg said:

Well, it's a matter of record that they have tens of millions of doses of AZ bought from the US months ago.

 

 

 

Stockpile in Japan estimated at 30 million doses, which will expire by September.

 

Hopefully they ship this soon. Should be enough for ~ 5 days vaccinations here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nkg]

6 minutes ago, clivebaxter said:

 

Of course they did they are part of the government roll out the same as other private hospitals, if you booked on mor prom app you could have selected it for free vaccinations if in Bkk. Odd that Thailand are accepting charity AZ, while at the same time they are meant to be producing their own in large enough amounts to to sell to other countries 

 

Well, it's "only" 1.05 million doses - a very substantial and generous donation, but Thailand are projected to produce 200 million doses of AZ in 12 months from their factory, 61 million of which will go to Thais.

 

Still, 1.05 million doses right now are very valuable for Thailand.

 

 

[pseudorabies]

44 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Already manufactured, and Japan decided not t use it - they're going with PFizer and Moderna.

 

 

 

Every little bit helps, and Thailand is desperarate. Thank you Japan for donating these vaccines.

 

 

 

Japan wisely decides to go with the "A" team to vaccinate its citizens while donating the "B" team vaccines to a country that has proudly dedicated itself to the "C" team's vaccines.

I wonder if there is a condition, perhaps unwritten, that provides for Japanese nationals to be vaccinated with donated vaccine.  For their sake I hope so.

 

[DavisH]

29 deaths were recored in Taiwan shortly after they used az produced in Japan. Probably not related, as many of those dying wee elderly with underlying conditions. It's not good publicity though. Aside from the rare blood clotting issue,  it seems to be that perhaps this vaccine causes some negative immunological reaction in the elderly with severe underlying disease. 

 

 https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4226244

[nkg]

3 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

 

 

Stockpile in Japan estimated at 30 million doses, which will expire by September.

 

Hopefully they ship this soon. Should be enough for ~ 5 days vaccinations here.

 

 

 

 

It will make an impact in Thailand - as well as in Indonesia, Malaysia, The Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam etc. Ultimately, though, Thailand need to make their own arrangements.

 

Actions speak louder than words ????