Is Thailand’s bid to join global vaccine-sharing initiative too little, too late?

[webfact]

 

By Thai PBS World’s General Desk

 

Thailand is finally bidding to join the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative after being hit by a critical shortage of effective vaccines at the height of its contagion crisis. Thai PBS World takes a closer look at the global vaccine initiative and ponders why Thailand is the only ASEAN nation not to join so far.

 

What is COVAX?

Directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations  (CEPI), and the World Health Organisation, COVAX is a worldwide initiative for equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Its goal is to provide enough doses for at least 20 per cent of each member country’s population.

 

COVAX attracted immense interest soon after launching. As of July 22, it had delivered 136 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to 136 countries. The aim of the initiative is both to procure the much-needed jabs and also ensure low-income countries like Laos have equal access.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/is-thailands-bid-to-join-global-vaccine-sharing-initiative-too-little-too-late/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-07-23

 

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[JoePai]

The answer is  YES

[Denim]

Yes. It is too little too late but still a bit better than not at all never.

[dabhand]

Seems the leaking of the AZ letter, which noted that joining Covax was advised to the Thai Government way back in September 2020, has had a positive effect. Disgrace that it has taken such a revelation to take such a vital step forward in vaccine procurement .                                                                                                                                                                    

[mikebell]

They didn't join as they wanted the final say on commissions without any outside interference.

[riclag]

Rather late then never !

[greenmonkey]

for me this tops all of the very very bad corrupt decisions made by the govt and this should be the one that angers the Thai public the most. There is just no reason in the world that this govt can put forward that can justify such a decision.

[tomazbodner]

It is a lot too late, but let's face it - had AZ not shamed the Thai government by leaking the data, this would not have happened.

[mtls2005]

So had Thailand actually joined COVAX? Completed the paperwork? Had the AG review it. Maybe check with the GPO? These things take time, right?

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Thailand is finally bidding to join

 

Ah, OK.

 

 

So we're in the "bidding to join" phase. Is that pre-committee or post-committee?

 

 

 

 

 

 

[petermik]

I seem to recall the PM stating late Jan early Feb on here that they would NOT be joining Covax as in his words...we believe WE can procure vaccines far more quickly and cheaper ourselves with the help of our Chinese and Russian friends......

[Crossy]

A couple of posts inferring a royal connection have been removed.

 

We are not talking about Lord Voldemort here!

[BusyB]

It's about deleted time ...

[Dogmatix]

Almost certainly pointless to join COVAX at this stage.  In the initial phase middle income countries that joined as self-financing participants were able to get access to some vaccines earlier than they could procure them themselves or more than they could procure themselves.  But now COVAX has moved on to supplying impoverished countries free, especially in Africa where things are dire and most countries are unable to procure vaccines for themeselves.  Middle income countreis have now had time to procue vaccines for themselves and many  have procured mRNA vaccines and they are now longer a priority to COVAX.  If they failed to use the time profitably, that was their cohoice.

 

The government is probably not expecting to get much from COVAX but this is more likely a cynical PR effort to counter the AZ letter and the dead bodies in the street. 

[Cake Monster]

This must be some kind of real embarrassment for the Government.

Not only having to join a Scheme that they had previously rubbished, with over priced Vaccines, but also a Scheme that was initially set up to support poor Nations that had little resources to fund vaccination programs.

Would Thailand really qualify as being a Nation, lying as they do at 21st position in the Global richest Nations list.

 

[mfd101]

Yes, it's certainly too little too late for the thousands who have died and will die from the government's corruption and neglect. And for the scores of thousands who will suffer extremely unpleasant symptoms for weeks and months after they have 'recovered'.

 

But mai pen rai. They're poor people. Let them eat noodles!

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand is finally bidding to join the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) initiative after being hit by a critical shortage of effective vaccines at the height of its contagion crisis. Thai PBS World takes a closer look at the global vaccine initiative and ponders why Thailand is the only ASEAN nation not to join so far.

Thailand has finally realised it can't go it alone....

[mrfill]

Well, its not really unfair to say that it is unlikely to be rated as 'world  beating', 'first class' or 'gold standard'.

[ukrules]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

ponders why Thailand is the only ASEAN nation not to join so far

I heard 'Thailand number one'

 

[simon43]

1 hour ago, Cake Monster said:

This must be some kind of real embarrassment for the Government.

Not only having to join a Scheme that they had previously rubbished, with over priced Vaccines, but also a Scheme that was initially set up to support poor Nations that had little resources to fund vaccination programs.

Would Thailand really qualify as being a Nation, lying as they do at 21st position in the Global richest Nations list.

 

Yes indeed.  Here in Laos, this 'poor' country joined  Covax early on, and received donations of vaccines from the EU, USA, China, Russia and Japan, all given free of charge to Lao people and foreigners alike... I got my second AZ jab weeks ago.

 

Heads should roll for what has happened in Thailand...

[MayBeNow]

Thailand felt too good to join covax. The insular mentality coupled with their sense of exceptionalism prevented joining covax.

Pride comes before the fall.

And to use a Thai expression: 'som nam na'.

Edited July 23, 2021 by MayBeNow

[newnative]

    Everything has been too little-too late--except the numerous and always on time reports of millions and millions of vaccine orders being pondered, considered, planned, and mulled--just never actually ordered.  How's the Moderna order, by the way.  I thought I read somewhere that it was possibly finally, finally going out today.  

[Khun Yogi]

4 hours ago, tomazbodner said:

It is a lot too late, but let's face it - had AZ not shamed the Thai government by leaking the data, this would not have happened.

The AZ letter stated the facts. Thailand decided to go by there own rules and that has back fired.

[MrJ2U]

2 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Semi lockdown to match the semi mass vaccination.

Covax is it has ordered millions of doses of Sinovac and Sinopharm.

 

What are they thinking.

 

We know Sinovac is basically useless against the Delta variant.  I think thats why its so easy to get.  Only the cheap charlie countries want it.

[dirtybirty]

My god loss of face involved.  Admitting they need help.  Wonder what load if rubbish they will spout to get around it lol

[bangon04]

32 minutes ago, dirtybirty said:

My god loss of face involved.  Admitting they need help.  Wonder what load if rubbish they will spout to get around it lol

"The aim of the initiative is both to procure the much-needed jabs and also ensure low-income countries like Laos have equal access."

 

The Thai government will pretend it is a "poor" country if it means a free booster...

 

Not sure if they will try to "face" it out.......

[mbenson]

5 hours ago, MrJ2U said:

Covax is it has ordered millions of doses of Sinovac and Sinopharm.

 

What are they thinking.

 

We know Sinovac is basically useless against the Delta variant.  I think thats why its so easy to get.  Only the cheap charlie countries want it.

https://www.reuters.com/world/gavi-signs-covid-19-vaccine-supply-deals-with-sinovac-sinopharm-covax-2021-07-12/

[MrJ2U]

1 minute ago, mbenson said:

https://www.reuters.com/world/gavi-signs-covid-19-vaccine-supply-deals-with-sinovac-sinopharm-covax-2021-07-12/

Thats the article.

 

Sinovac is pretty useless against the Delta variant.

 

A new report today in Reuters reports Sinopharm isn't very effective for people over 60.

 

I don't want either of them.