FILE PHOTO: Syringe and vial are seen in front of displayed new Pfizer logo in this illustration taken, June 24, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand will order an additional 10 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, its health ministry said on Friday, as the Southeast Asian country battles its biggest COVID-19 outbreak to date.

 

Since April, Thailand has been tackling a surge in infections driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, pushing hospitals in the capital Bangkok to the brink.

 

Thailand will take delivery of 20 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine later this year, but also has plans to order an additional 10 million shots from the company, health ministry official Kiatiphum Wongrajit told reporters.

 

Thailand's vaccine drive has so far depended on Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines and faced delays since it began last month. Just 5.6% of the country's 66 million population been fully vaccinated so far.

 

Thailand manufacturers the AstraZeneca vaccine under license locally, but production has been much smaller than government expectations, contributing to a delay in its rollout.

 

The country has received a donation of one million doses of the Sinovac vaccine from China and one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from Japan. Britain has also pledged 415,000 AstraZeneca shots.

 

Thailand received its first batch of 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine donated by the U.S. government on Friday.

 

U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Thailand Michael Heath said at a separate briefing that the United States would send one million doses of an unspecified COVID-19 vaccine in addition to that batch.

 

The country's COVID-19 task force reported 17,345 new cases and 117 new deaths on Friday.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-07-30

 

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just a few days ago they were planning the whole 50mln more, that on top of already 20mln ordered (just the last week).

Something went wrong, again?

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/50-million-more-doses-of-pfizer-vaccine-more-moderna-expected-to-be-purchased/

They're definitely going to need a bigger fridge.

If TAT had been in charge from the start there would never have been any shortages.

10 mil doses? I didn't realize there were that many Thai hi-so's in the country?

Hmm, plans to order, is different to ordering and very different to, will be delivered on xyz date.

 

I have a feeling that we will hear about this order again and again…..and again. But will the country ever see the vaccines? That is the question.

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

but also has plans to order an additional 10 million shots from the company, health ministry official Kiatiphum Wongrajit told reporters.

Thailand also had plans for a democratically elected government and to eradicate endemic corruption but neither of these plans have even remotely materialized.

'Says' is not 'Does' !

Hmm ... "plans" for 10 million ... why not plan enough to vax everyone (120 million doses)?

 

I suspect the government hasn't yet actually ordered enough vaxes for everyone ... I don't see what their game-plan is.

8 hours ago, law ling said:

Hmm ... "plans" for 10 million ... why not plan enough to vax everyone (120 million doses)?

 

I suspect the government hasn't yet actually ordered enough vaxes for everyone ... I don't see what their game-plan is.

Obviously because there is not enough supply from manufacturers. They are depending on donations now. A lot of the Pfizer and Moderna purchases are for later in the year. They are buying whatever supply  they can even if it is 2 at a time!

Good if true 

 

Interested to see how that 3 billion baht donation is spent 

Thailand will order an additional 10 million doses of the Pfizer. 

 

The key word will is equivalent to pay you back. It will never happen here. 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, hioctane said:

Obviously because there is not enough supply from manufacturers. They are depending on donations now. A lot of the Pfizer and Moderna purchases are for later in the year. They are buying whatever supply  they can even if it is 2 at a time!

there was more than enough the last year, when many countries were making their orders. That's how they have their surplus and are able to re-sale it or donate to poor soods, like prayuth (to gain some economic, military advantage for future deals).

Thailand was offered by pfizer any quantity of vax at the end of last year, even without any deposit, down payment - they suppose to pay after using those doses.

This offer was presented 3x, and each time declined by thai government. On reason, that efficacy and side effects are not knows and assumption, that thailand needs only 3mln doses per month (which was already secured with the AZ  deal).

  

4 hours ago, inThailand said:

Thailand will order an additional 10 million doses of the Pfizer. 

 

The key word will is equivalent to pay you back. It will never happen here. 

 

 

 

With all these vaccines coming in why don't they make it easier for those who don't live near private Hospitals. Like let your local doctor order the vaccines and give them to you at a little higher cost This would stop long lines at the hospitals and more people would vaccinate.

10 hours ago, law ling said:

Hmm ... "plans" for 10 million ... why not plan enough to vax everyone (120 million doses)?

 

I suspect the government hasn't yet actually ordered enough vaxes for everyone ... I don't see what their game-plan is.

I think that there is a very simple explanation. Cash. Thailand has lied so much now about vaccines that it has lost all credibility, and they simply aren't trusted. The manufacturers will only take orders when the cash is on the table. Hence, effectively, relying on government donations and Chinese credit.

 

Cash is limited, there are just so many other people, groups and purchases planned with calls upon the pot ( I nearly said "trough" there!).

 

If those taps were to be closed to pay for meaningful vaccine procurement then the government would lose much of it's support.

Show us the signed order and not more talk!

It feels like they were surprised at the relative ease, and quicker delivery, as a result of signing the initial contract with Pfizer/THL on 20 July. Terms were reported to be 20 mm doses, delivered this year.

 

And I assume they were surprised at the low price?

 

So pending budget - quick gavel and rubber stamp by "parliament" - they simply added an addendum for another tranche of 10 mm. Based on other vaccine procurements (Sinovac, Sinopharm AZ, Moderna, et al.), both public and private, they made add more in the coming weeks and months.

 

Slowly, but slowly they seem to be "getting it".

 

 

 

 

Thailand manufacturers the AstraZeneca vaccine under license locally, but production has been much smaller than government expectations, contributing to a delay in its rollout.

This, according to AstraZeneca, is apparently wrong. If Anutin orders 3 million/month (on 20 September last year) then you cannot blame them to produce ....... 3 million/month for the Thai market. The rest of the production has been contractually allocated to other countries like Taiwan, Philippines etc. 

So the blame ends domestically with the chief banana of the said ministry! 

Yup, we got a classic chicken and egg dilemma. They don't want to pay in advance, so manufacturers will just sell to someone they can trust. 

 

Remember when Germany confiscated someone's plane to get the govt to pay for a tollway build by a German company, ten years after the fact? 

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand will order an additional 10 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, its health ministry said on Friday, as the Southeast Asian country battles its biggest COVID-19 outbreak to date.

Should be delivered when, sometime next year?

   The vaccines ordered earlier will arrive 'later this year'.  Why is it always later this year???  Why isn't the date of arrival for the earlier order known by now?  So many stories of so many millions of vaccines ordered but nothing except some small donations has actually arrived--and still no firm dates for anything Thailand has ordered--or, perhaps, has not actually ordered.  

I think anutin may have a problem with his fake news of vaccinating 1 million people a day !! The guy that filed the complaint against him might win ????

They need to be ordering 100 million.  

A little late, as per experience in other nations.

I have noticed Thailand is pretty insular.

Wondering if His Majesty has any influence over the fooferaw?

He is a fan of Germany, etc., and I think cannot be pleased about the plight of his people.

Hoping this does not impinge on "laissez faire" rules.

I think Everyone here is being a little short sighted on this subject.

 

The JEDI will restore Order and Peace to Thailand, once they finish fighting General Grievous, Count Dooku, and the rest of the clone Army.

 

At least that’s what the Gov’t is counting on. 

1 hour ago, newnative said:

   The vaccines ordered earlier will arrive 'later this year'.  Why is it always later this year???  Why isn't the date of arrival for the earlier order known by now?  So many stories of so many millions of vaccines ordered but nothing except some small donations has actually arrived--and still no firm dates for anything Thailand has ordered--or, perhaps, has not actually ordered.  

One piece about an agency claiming to be in "negotiations", and Pfizer said "Whoa! We have not heard from these people at all."

Pfizer has nothing to gain from lying about this, so...

1 hour ago, Sydebolle said:

Thailand manufacturers the AstraZeneca vaccine under license locally, but production has been much smaller than government expectations, contributing to a delay in its rollout.

This, according to AstraZeneca, is apparently wrong. If Anutin orders 3 million/month (on 20 September last year) then you cannot blame them to produce ....... 3 million/month for the Thai market. The rest of the production has been contractually allocated to other countries like Taiwan, Philippines etc. 

So the blame ends domestically with the chief banana of the said ministry! 

Just g'ed it... Thailand shipping 120-150m doses export...  (or targeted to)...

 

10m doses inflow not even a drop in the bucket...   What they gonna do for the next 10 days??? TIT

12 hours ago, law ling said:

Hmm ... "plans" for 10 million ... why not plan enough to vax everyone (120 million doses)?

 

I suspect the government hasn't yet actually ordered enough vaxes for everyone ... I don't see what their game-h

here is a possible scenario 
1. avoid approving or buying any imported vaccines for as long as possible

2delay any vaccines that are not Sinovac or AZ

3 experience mass infections, death and economic ruin

4 wait for the free vaccines to start flowing in from generous countries who pity the citizens of Thailand

5 use the money saved from vaccines to buy a fleet of submarines and space rockets

 

Will, now i am nervous when people tell me they will but without the when bit.

Plans and orders, plans and orders…followed by lies and miserable failure. 

 

Who cares???

 

Enough of spreading false hope and mis-information.
 

Get off your useless keisters and get busy!!! Then let us know when enough vaccine has arrived for everyone.