Thailand says AstraZeneca asked to delay delivery of 61 million vaccine doses

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO: People receive the first dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Central Vaccination Center, inside the Bang Sue Grand Station, Thailand, June 21, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - AstraZeneca has asked Thailand to extend the timeline for the delivery of 61 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine by five months, a deputy minister said on Thursday, a move likely to disrupt further the country's sluggish vaccine rollout.

 

Deputy Health Minister Sathit Pitutacha said AstraZeneca currently had the capacity to produce 15 million doses of vaccine per month at its production facility in Thailand and that capacity could expand in the future.

 

The company has promised to deliver 40% of what is produced to Thailand, the deputy health minister said, adding that Thailand will ask the company for more doses.

 

"We must negotiate with them because in this situation we need more vaccine," Sathit said.

 

"We want 10 million doses because the original plan was 10 million doses," he said referring to the previous monthly delivery target.

 

Thailand a day earlier said it was considering imposing limits on exports of locally manufactured AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to fight its own outbreak.

 

The country is suffering its worst CVOID-19 outbreak yet and reported a record 98 coronavirus deaths on Thursday taking total fatalities to 3,032 since the pandemic began last year.

 

The country's COVID-19 taskforce also reported 9,186 new coronavirus cases, bringing total infections to 372,215.

 

Thailand's main vaccine rollout started last month and only about 5% of its more than 66 million people have been fully vaccinated.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Ed Davies)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-07-15

 

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[Surelynot]

Oh dear...it never rains but it pours.

[Phuketshrew]

What a crock of <<deleted>>. Even at full capacity, which is doubtful, 40% of 15 million is just 6 million doses per month. This is well short of the touted 10 million doses per month they have been bragging about. Little wonder they are still having to import the Sinocrap.

[Surelynot]

The headline is a tad misleading...........in as much it is totally the wrong way around..

[Katipo]

Not only has the usual over promising and under delivering hurt Thailand, but this time also the people of Taiwan, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

[sammieuk1]

It was always going to be a struggle with the not for profit vaccine here

[Dogmatix]

This is an unholy mess.  AZ came up with a good idea to do local production in SE Asia, if indeed they came up with the idea themselves, but they shot themselves in the foot but giving the whole production to one small company with no experience or track record in vaccine production. A back up factory in Thailand and/or elsewhere was the obvious thing to do, if they wanted to proceed with such a partner. 

 

Now Thailand is gong to have to severly curtail or ban exports.  So there is not much point in AZ trying to bargain to cut the Thai orders.  The same thing happened to them in India.  There is nothing they can do against a sovereign power. In the EU they are being sued for non-delivery. 

[MasterBaker]

haven't seen any management being laid off, or at least "transferred"

[Dialemco]

1 hour ago, Dogmatix said:

This is an unholy mess.  AZ came up with a good idea to do local production in SE Asia, if indeed they came up with the idea themselves, but they shot themselves in the foot but giving the whole production to one small company with no experience or track record in vaccine production. A back up factory in Thailand and/or elsewhere was the obvious thing to do, if they wanted to proceed with such a partner. 

 

Now Thailand is gong to have to severly curtail or ban exports.  So there is not much point in AZ trying to bargain to cut the Thai orders.  The same thing happened to them in India.  There is nothing they can do against a sovereign power. In the EU they are being sued for non-delivery. 

The problem with AZ vaccine it is too cheap in comparison with other manufacturers which means it is receiving such large orders it cannot possibly cope as it was never meant for countries who could afford to pay the commercial cost being asked by other companies

[Songlaw]

You can slap lipstick on a pig and call it a ballerina, but when it comes time to dance and has the grace of a three-legged mule, don't be shocked when you don't bring home the trophy. Let them who have the ability to read between the lines, understand what I am saying. For the rest, suffice it to say that there is a reason the military and government are not ever considered synonymous. 

[Aussieroaming]

Bad news to be delivered so Anutin hids and throws the Deputy Health Minister in the firing line. More quackery from the Minister of Filth.

[nahkit]

2 hours ago, Surelynot said:

The headline is a tad misleading...........in as much it is totally the wrong way around..

Think the whole story is misleading - surely it's the Thai company who are producing the vaccine here that are asking for an extension, rather than Astrazeneca themselves?

[bradiston]

Step forward Thanatorn, who had the temerity to simply question the transparency of the deal with AstraZaneca, and got threatened with 112 and defamation lawsuits. Salute that man!

 

This has to be the end for Prayut and Anutin. Who else is responsible for this appalling cxxx up? Who negotiated the deal with AstraZaneca? A total policy failure. They have to go.

[Surelynot]

8 minutes ago, nahkit said:

Think the whole story is misleading - surely it's the Thai company who are producing the vaccine here that are asking for an extension, rather than Astrazeneca themselves?

Hard to tell who is in charge of the asylum now.....555

[Tracyb]

How should one interpret this headline?

 

“Thailand says AstraZeneca asked to delay delivery of 61 million vaccine doses“

 

Who’s asking for what?  Is Thailand asking Astra Zeneca or is Astra Zeneca asking Thailand.  I’m neither qualified not interested in being a “grammar cop” but for crying out loud…..will someone please clarify what this statement is trying to convey?  Admins?  Mods?  Anyone??

 I just previously read an article suggesting that Thailand was considering limiting the number of AZ doses to be exported in order to increase the availability of doses for use in Thailand.

Cmon folks, let’s get this cleared up and stop fueling the stream of  misinformation that plagues us all………

 

Just sayin.

 

[Cake Monster]

3 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

What a crock of <<deleted>>. Even at full capacity, which is doubtful, 40% of 15 million is just 6 million doses per month. This is well short of the touted 10 million doses per month they have been bragging about. Little wonder they are still having to import the Sinocrap.

Anutin and the rest of the Goon Squad have been banging a Drum about the quantity of AZ vaccine that will be made available to the Thai nation right from the start of this endeavor. It is only these delusional Fools that thought all the production from SB was for Thai use only.

AZ have always, and will always, be liable to supply to other Nations in SE Asia, as per the Contracts signed.

If AZ got really shirty about this, I think they would just pull the plug on SB, and relocate their Manufacture Plant to a more accommodating Country, or just utilized other Plants better.

The one thing that AZ has is the formula for the vaccine and the Supply Chain to maintain production. If they walked they would take this with them, and Thailand would have no Vaccine, and have to start from scratch, andwho would be stupid enough to supply them with components.

If they walked away, this would leave Thailand in a very bad place indeed. No Vaccine, no method to produce Vaccine  and a rampant Covid Outbreak.

 

 

[Surelynot]

1 minute ago, Cake Monster said:

No Vaccine, no method to produce Vaccine  and a rampant Covid Outbreak.

So nothing will really change......555

[Isaan sailor]

As long as they’re gonna shake things up, why not order a few million Moderna shots?  It might improve their lot.

[Dogmatix]

9 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

Anutin and the rest of the Goon Squad have been banging a Drum about the quantity of AZ vaccine that will be made available to the Thai nation right from the start of this endeavor. It is only these delusional Fools that thought all the production from SB was for Thai use only.

AZ have always, and will always, be liable to supply to other Nations in SE Asia, as per the Contracts signed.

If AZ got really shirty about this, I think they would just pull the plug on SB, and relocate their Manufacture Plant to a more accommodating Country, or just utilized other Plants better.

The one thing that AZ has is the formula for the vaccine and the Supply Chain to maintain production. If they walked they would take this with them, and Thailand would have no Vaccine, and have to start from scratch, andwho would be stupid enough to supply them with components.

If they walked away, this would leave Thailand in a very bad place indeed. No Vaccine, no method to produce Vaccine  and a rampant Covid Outbreak.

It is true that AZ could shut down SBS by cutting down the supply of components . But they could have done that to the licensee in India when the Indian government banned exports.  The contract in India was for the licensee to export half of its production of a billion doses a year. SBS is supposed to export two thirds but is much smaller and unable to produce up to capacity, so the export shortfall from Thailand is likely to be under 100 million doses on an annualised basis vs 500 million lost from Indian production.  Still AZ has taken the Indian defaults on the chin and continued to supply the raw materials.  As as result 20 million Canadians couldn't get their second shots of AZ and had to mix and match with Pfizer without a lot of research available at that time.

 

One of the big problems is that the Thai government wanted the local production and lent them B500 million of taxpayers' money to build the factory, but was only willing to commit to 35 million AZ doses, some of which were supposed to come from Italy, knowing that it would need more.  So AZ had to commit over 80% of the production to other markets to make the project viable on paper.   

[Srikcir]

42 minutes ago, bradiston said:

Step forward Thanatorn, who had the temerity to simply question the transparency of the deal with AstraZaneca, and got threatened with 112 and defamation lawsuits. Salute that man!

 

This has to be the end for Prayut and Anutin. Who else is responsible for this appalling cxxx up? Who negotiated the deal with AstraZaneca? A total policy failure. They have to go.

"A total policy failure."

Depends on what side of the political fence you are on. PM Prayut aka former junta leader government may have no choice to what you label "threats." 

Might better be labeled a "forced error."

[Tony125]

24 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

Anutin and the rest of the Goon Squad have been banging a Drum about the quantity of AZ vaccine that will be made available to the Thai nation right from the start of this endeavor. It is only these delusional Fools that thought all the production from SB was for Thai use only.

AZ have always, and will always, be liable to supply to other Nations in SE Asia, as per the Contracts signed.

If AZ got really shirty about this, I think they would just pull the plug on SB, and relocate their Manufacture Plant to a more accommodating Country, or just utilized other Plants better.

The one thing that AZ has is the formula for the vaccine and the Supply Chain to maintain production. If they walked they would take this with them, and Thailand would have no Vaccine, and have to start from scratch, andwho would be stupid enough to supply them with components.

If they walked away, this would leave Thailand in a very bad place indeed. No Vaccine, no method to produce Vaccine  and a rampant Covid Outbreak.

 

 

Do you really think that the Thai factory doesn't have the formula ?   And it's not like AZ Company can physically move the factory and wouldn't be neccesary anyway. President Biden  besides asking Pfizer and Moderna to maximise their production he is also asking them to basically give away their liscens so that factories in Africa, Asia and around the world can make their own. If AZ walks out of Thailand Pfizer or Moderna could take over the manufacturing plant.

[ukrules]

32 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

The one thing that AZ has is the formula for the vaccine and the Supply Chain to maintain production. If they walked they would take this with them, and Thailand would have no Vaccine, and have to start from scratch, andwho would be stupid enough to supply them with components.

This is why AZ is calling the shots.

[bradiston]

5 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

It is true that AZ could shut down SBS by cutting down the supply of components . But they could have done that to the licensee in India when the Indian government banned exports.  The contract in India was for the licensee to export half of its production of a billion doses a year. SBS is supposed to export two thirds but is much smaller and unable to produce up to capacity, so the export shortfall from Thailand is likely to be under 100 million doses on an annualised basis vs 500 million lost from Indian production.  Still AZ has taken the Indian defaults on the chin and continued to supply the raw materials.  As as result 20 million Canadians couldn't get their second shots of AZ and had to mix and match with Pfizer without a lot of research available at that time.

 

One of the big problems is that the Thai government wanted the local production and lent them B500 million of taxpayers' money to build the factory, but was only willing to commit to 35 million AZ doses, some of which were supposed to come from Italy, knowing that it would need more.  So AZ had to commit over 80% of the production to other markets to make the project viable on paper.   

I think it would take teams of lawyers to work out exactly what has happened here and who, if anyone, is liable. Seems to me there are two elements of law. The licensing of SBS by AstraZaneca, and any other contracts agreed, and the Thai government entering into a contractual agreement with AstraZaneca to supply a certain quota. The various agreements and contracts are likely to remain hidden from us forever, so we'll probably never know. I doubt anyone will start suing anybody else, but.... 

[grain]

30 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

So nothing will really change......555

yep, everything same same

[ukrules]

13 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

But they could have done that to the licensee in India when the Indian government banned exports.

Others have said this but it's incorrect, I will explain.

 

AstraZeneca needs Indias production capacity, they have long been the worlds manufacturing powerhouse for vaccines.

 

So AstraZeneca needs India, it doesn't need Thailand. Big difference.

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Oh dear...it never rains but it pours.

Monsoons due?

[Cake Monster]

10 minutes ago, Dogmatix said:

It is true that AZ could shut down SBS by cutting down the supply of components . But they could have done that to the licensee in India when the Indian government banned exports.  The contract in India was for the licensee to export half of its production of a billion doses a year. SBS is supposed to export two thirds but is much smaller and unable to produce up to capacity, so the export shortfall from Thailand is likely to be under 100 million doses on an annualised basis vs 500 million lost from Indian production.  Still AZ has taken the Indian defaults on the chin and continued to supply the raw materials.  As as result 20 million Canadians couldn't get their second shots of AZ and had to mix and match with Pfizer without a lot of research available at that time.

 

One of the big problems is that the Thai government wanted the local production and lent them B500 million of taxpayers' money to build the factory, but was only willing to commit to 35 million AZ doses, some of which were supposed to come from Italy, knowing that it would need more.  So AZ had to commit over 80% of the production to other markets to make the project viable on paper.   

Now I am starting to understand what went on a little better.

If Thailand was only prepared to commit to 35 M Doses, then this would have been in a contractual form, and would still be in effect today.

And yet the Thai Gov,t are now wanting more Doses than there contracted amount, but those doses have been sold elsewhere based on a Business decision forced upon them by the Thai non commitment to the project.

AZ could still pull the plug, and not get hurt too much, if they utilizes other production facilities more. After all 500 Million Baht is small to a Large Pharma Company.

So it was all about Kudos, and little else.

[Surasak]

That sounds much better than saying, 'We don't have the vaccines'. Save face you know.

[Surelynot]

3 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Monsoons due?

Showing off now.....monsoon is a wind!!! Bet you knew that anyway.

[thaitom]

I thought it was made in Thailand.