Video: UK ambassador announces 415K vax "donation" to Thailand - AZ to arrive next month

[webfact]

video screenshot

 

Acting ambassador of the United Kingdom Mark Gooding spoke on a two minute video in Thai to announce that the UK was donating 415,000 doses of Astra Zeneca - Oxford vaccine to Thailand.

 

It appeared to be coming at cost price. 

 

Daily News reported that it is part of a wider rollout of help to countries throughout the world either through the COVAX scheme or directly.

 

They said Jamaica, Kenya and Indonesia were getting doses first but Thailand would be next.

 

Up to 100 million doses will come from the UK by the middle of next year to countries around the world, it has been suggested.

 

In the video Mr Gooding said he was pleased to announce the vaccine donation from the UK where the vax was produced saying in  would arrive in Thailand in one to two weeks.

 

The vaccine would be delivered throughout the whole world at cost price, no profit, he maintained.

 

"It's high quality vaccine", he continued, pointing out that the UK now has a surplus of vaccine to share with the rest of the world after "our successful vaccine program".

 

He said that the donations showed the close relationship between the two countries adding: "Thailand will be one of few countries in the world to benefit directly from getting the vaccine.

 

"We stand by you as ever," he assured the Thai people recognising the serious nature of the pandemic in Thailand at present. 

 

The video gave no other details or stipulations. 

 

A donation from the US of Pfizer vaccine has caused enormous trouble with doctors in Thailand concerned it has not gone to its intended recipients and the US criticized by its citizens in Thailand for apparently not stipulating that they should receive any.

 

There were also no stipulations in the video from Mr Gooding and no suggestion that any of the donation, if that is what it is, will be going to UK nationals residing in the kingdom, notes ASEAN NOW.

 

Many UK expats especially outside Bangkok have been trying to get vaccinated without success with criticism leveled at their embassy for deserting them. 

 

ASEAN NOW has carried stories about the Chinese and French authorities helping their citizens in Thailand.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2021-07-29

 

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[RAZZELL]

Maybe the Brits who live here could get some? Rather than members of the Armed forces etc?

 

RAZZ

Edited July 29, 2021 by RAZZELL

[ChipButty]

This is what Thailand has been waiting for Donations from other countries so they dont have to spend their own money making out they are a 3rd would country,

[darksidedog]

I had hoped to read somewhere that expat Brits would be given some priority.

[ChipButty]

Just now, darksidedog said:

I had hoped to read somewhere that expat Brits would be given some priority.

Low priority 

[grandpa]

Thank you very much UK.  As an aging Brit with 3 of the 7 health problems listed for priority vaccination, can I put in a bid for 2 doses please!  Have been refused registration umpteen times here in Khon Kaen!

[SooKee]

Be interesting to see what policy if any is applied to these.  Same as most Thai policies when it comes to foreigners I suppose - take, take, TAKE!

[Thailand]

Where do I register so that can get bumped off again?

 

Not holding my breath that any of this will find it's way to any British expats. 

[OJAS]

26 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

I had hoped to read somewhere that expat Brits would be given some priority.

On the contrary I strongly suspect that we are far more likely to be hearing of reports of every sinew being expended by the Embassy, in collaboration with their contacts in the Thai government, to ensure that each and every drop of these 415,000 vaccine doses ends up exclusively in the arms of Thai nationals. Absolutely bloody disgraceful IMHO.

 

EDIT: Just watched the Ambassador's video but didn't understand a bloody word of it as he was yakking away in Thai! Thought at the very least that English sub-titles could have been provided - and the fact that none were is, IMHO, clearly indicative of where his sympathies lie in the distribution of these vaccine doses. ????

Edited July 29, 2021 by OJAS

[Saltire]

25 minutes ago, grandpa said:

Thank you very much UK.  As an aging Brit with 3 of the 7 health problems listed for priority vaccination, can I put in a bid for 2 doses please!  Have been refused registration umpteen times here in Khon Kaen!

I will take 2 as well.

 

I am in exactly the same situation in Kanchanaburi.

 

In case you didn't see it, there is now a Khon Kaen hospital on the Thailandintervac page. Good luck.

Edited July 29, 2021 by Saltire

[Rookiescot]

31 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

This is what Thailand has been waiting for Donations from other countries so they dont have to spend their own money making out they are a 3rd would country,

The UK is selling it to Thailand at cost price.

[Henryford]

But not for UK residents, thanks for nothing.

[bkk6060]

33 minutes ago, grandpa said:

Thank you very much UK.  As an aging Brit with 3 of the 7 health problems listed for priority vaccination, can I put in a bid for 2 doses please!  Have been refused registration umpteen times here in Khon Kaen!

Be proactive.  Now might be a good time to contact your Embassy.  I am sure they can make special arrangements to transport and arrange your shots in Khon Kaen.

[Pumpuynarak]

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

"We stand by you as ever," he assured the Thai people recognising the serious nature of the pandemic in Thailand at present. 

As opposed to its own citizens living in Thailand, an utter disgrace.

[OJAS]

10 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

The UK is selling it to Thailand at cost price.

The OP merely stated that these surplus doses appeared to be coming at cost price, not that they actually were. In any event there is no reference that I could find to them being provided at cost price in the Daily News article linked in the OP.

[internationalism]

covid diplomacy it's called.

Followed by some cushy armaments contract and with more joined military training "against those communists" as during the cold war

 

Edited July 29, 2021 by internationalism

[Rookiescot]

2 minutes ago, OJAS said:

The OP merely stated that these surplus doses appeared to be coming at cost price, not that they actually were. In any event there is no reference that I could find to them being provided at cost price in the Daily News article linked in the OP.

Well apparently in the video he said. 

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In the video Mr Gooding said he was pleased to announce the vaccine donation from the UK where the vax was produced saying in  would arrive in Thailand in one to two weeks.

 

The vaccine would be delivered throughout the whole world at cost price, no profit, he maintained.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

13 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

The UK is selling it to Thailand at cost price.

It's a donation, so the British taxpayer will pick up the bill. 

 

The fact that British expats are not specifically taken care of out of this donation of vaccines is a slap in the face for all of us and is a sign of how the British govt. puts foreign nationals ahead of their own. 

 

Watching that beta male attempting eloquent Thai while telling expats the NHS cannot provide for them overseas and we have to fend for ourselves sickens me to the core. 

 

Disgusted. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

6 minutes ago, internationalism said:

covid diplomacy it's called.

Followed by some cushy armaments contract and with more joined military training "against those communists" as during the cold war

Joint exercises between the Royal Navy and Thai Navy were underway this week. 

 

The RN said it was to aid humanitarian relief in the region but some of the comments remarked that the Thai Navy is not renowned for being humanitarian when towing refugees out to sea... 

Edited July 29, 2021 by Mr Meeseeks

[Rookiescot]

5 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

It's a donation, so the British taxpayer will pick up the bill. 

 

The fact that British expats are not specifically taken care of out of this donation of vaccines is a slap in the face for all of us and is a sign of how the British govt. puts foreign nationals ahead of their own. 

 

Watching that beta male attempting eloquent Thai while telling expats the NHS cannot provide for them overseas and we have to fend for ourselves sickens me to the core. 

 

Disgusted. 

At the risk of repeating myself......

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

In the video Mr Gooding said he was pleased to announce the vaccine donation from the UK where the vax was produced saying in  would arrive in Thailand in one to two weeks.

 

The vaccine would be delivered throughout the whole world at cost price, no profit, he maintained.

 

[sapson]

43 minutes ago, grandpa said:

Thank you very much UK.  As an aging Brit with 3 of the 7 health problems listed for priority vaccination, can I put in a bid for 2 doses please!  Have been refused registration umpteen times here in Khon Kaen!

 

Yep in the same boat here in KK as the cases increase daily it would be great if their were some plans for a vaccination program for us over sixties high risk groups not in Bangkok.

 

 

[norfolkandchance]

48 minutes ago, OJAS said:

On the contrary I strongly suspect that we are far more likely to be hearing of reports of every sinew being expended by the Embassy, in collaboration with their contacts in the Thai government, to ensure that each and every drop of these 415,000 vaccine doses ends up exclusively in the arms of Thai nationals. Absolutely bloody disgraceful IMHO.

 

EDIT: Just watched the Ambassador's video but didn't understand a bloody word of it as he was yakking away in Thai! Thought at the very least that English sub-titles could have been provided - and the fact that none were is, IMHO, clearly indicative of where his sympathies lie in the distribution of these vaccine doses. ????

There was a English version doing the rounds last night. Sorry. can’t find the link. Maybe on YouTube.

[sharecropper]

My honest reply to this would be so full of <deleted> and blinding that it wouldn't even get posted.

 

This "flipping" scum in the Embassy and the British Government never help out Brits here. The best example being donating vaccines to a corrupt, fascist country like Thailand with a disgusting human rights record, and Political prisoners cramming the jails, that the Brits suddenly don't care about, without stipulating that some of them should actually be used on its own citizens.

 

Thanks for (literally) nothing.

 

Let's hope the Chinese see how really weak you are when they take out that expensive aircraft carrier you've been "Poodled" by the US into sailing into the South China Sea for totally $hit-stirring reasons.

 

Rant over.

[sandyf]

17 minutes ago, Rookiescot said:

At the risk of repeating myself......

 

 

Quite, it is an unfortunate trait on here that some will say what they want to believe despite evidence to the contrary.

It was a new low for the UK when they cut the aid budget but looks like they are quite prepared to go lower.

[Whale]

If you want to live in Thailand you have to accept the <deleted> that comes with that. If you leave the UK you do that in full knowledge you are walking away from some things, both good and bad. Cant have it both ways.

[Cake Monster]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

He said that the donations showed the close relationship between the two countries adding: "Thailand will be one of few countries in the world to benefit directly from getting the vaccine.

 

Thats because we want you to play in our Garden

[Saltire]

8 minutes ago, Whale said:

If you want to live in Thailand you have to accept the <deleted> that comes with that. If you leave the UK you do that in full knowledge you are walking away from some things, both good and bad. Cant have it both ways.

Agree 100% but I also thiink they missed a huge opportunity to do something good for a change. We all know leaving the UK is somehow to be penalised with frozen pensions, no NHS on returning (have to wait 6 months or lie), and still have to pay UK tax.

 

I can live with that, but this donation would easily cover ALL UK citizens living here, and more to the point, several countries have set a precedent in vaxing their own passport holders. They missed a golden opportunity to do something for everyone. Set up 4 or 5 provincial centres and we could all relax a little. Could be done in a few weeks.

 

Huge missed opportunity in my view.

Edited July 29, 2021 by Saltire

[Mr Meeseeks]

More on the vaccine donations from the Grauniad. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jul/28/uks-covid-vaccine-donations-alongside-move-to-block-waiver-shameful

 

Nothing about vaccines being sold at cost price. This is coming out of the UK's foreign aid budget. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

14 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Quite, it is an unfortunate trait on here that some will say what they want to believe despite evidence to the contrary.

It was a new low for the UK when they cut the aid budget but looks like they are quite prepared to go lower.

You and the other poster are wrong:

 

The cost of this donation is being funded by UK Official Development Assistance, and the Foreign Office said it would come over and above the ODA spending target of 0.5% of GNI if needed.

 

From the Grauniad article linked to above. 

 

Try not to sound so sanctimonious next time when you are ignorant of the facts. 

[mikebell]

59 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

The fact that British expats are not specifically taken care of out of this donation of vaccines is a slap in the face for all of us and is a sign of how the British govt. puts foreign nationals ahead of their own. 

 

Watching that beta male attempting eloquent Thai while telling expats the NHS cannot provide for them overseas and we have to fend for ourselves sickens me to the core. 

 

Disgusted. 

Totally echo your sentiments; freezing our State Pensions whilst donating vaccines to a military dictatorship is total hypocrisy.  If we were starved back to UK, it would cost the motherland far more in social security benefits. All Brits should write to him and express our collective ire.