Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Ministry of Public Health to procure Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s Molnupiravir COVID-19 treatments, so the country will be among those countries having priority access to the drugs.

 

On Friday, Pfizer announced that its anti-viral medicine Paxlovid reduces the risk of hospitalisation or death by 89 % in clinical trials, in which the drug was tested in adults with the disease and high-risk comorbidities. The drug pending emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration.

 

Both antiviral medicines attack the coronavirus by interfering with its ability to replicate. On Thursday, the United Kingdom approved the emergency use of Merck’s Molnupiravir.

 

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Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-pm-wants-early-procurement-of-mercks-molnupiravir-and-pfizers-paxlovid/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-11-06

 

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deja vue... they did the same with the vaccines and look where did it get them, last on the line 555

What's happened to the "Enough for 200,000 patients" Molnupiravir that was supposedly discussed in the Thai Cabinet 4 weeks ago? Price? Which countries have secured December 2021 delivery schedules before Thailand?

 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-talks-with-merck-200000-courses-anti-covid-pills-2021-10-04/

Prayut's thoughts don't go more than to the end of a table. In genral, it is a good idea to replace the vaccine by pills, if effective. But it has to be appoved by science if effective.

 

But replacing the vaccines by the pills has a lot of consequences. Can the pills against covid replace all the laws and orders concerning the necessary (double) anti-covid vaccines? I.e., if you go to the haircutter, leaving the province or the Thai country, going into the pub or a bar, reducing the distance to the neighbor sitting in a bus, train or anywhere in the publich area???

 

The list goes on .... and the cheating will do so, too.

 

Officer/police in the airport: "Where is your required vaccination document?"

Answer: "Pfizer’s Paxlovid or Merck’s Molnupiravir COVID, don't need the vaccines."

Officer: "Show me the pills!"

Answer: "Are at home".

 

Officer confused. Everbody can say this (unapproved). And that can (will) reduce the covid pandemie???

 

I guess , Prayut did not yet think about these consequences in the bureaucracy.

 

 

 

Edited November 6, 20214 yr by puck2

As we have seen in the past, "instructing" and "carrying out" don't always go hand in hand. 

Amazing that everyone under his command is clueless until he orders, instructs, demands them to

do something 

They will attempt to get them for free next by manufacturing themselves

I expect we will be soon hearing about the amazing thai researchers/dr.s who have invented Thailovid and Siampirovir pills that cure covid infections, joining the ranks of the thai cures for hiv and ebola that saved the world.

1 hour ago, rbkk said:

What's happened to the "Enough for 200,000 patients" Molnupiravir that was supposedly discussed in the Thai Cabinet 4 weeks ago? Price? Which countries have secured December 2021 delivery schedules before Thailand?

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailand-talks-with-merck-200000-courses-anti-covid-pills-2021-10-04/

More bluster, they only ordered enough for 50,000 people and its does not look like the budget has even been approved yet, this from 3 days ago:

 

 

The Department of Medical Services has requested a budget for medicines and risk expenses to buy Molnupiravir tablets, Department of Medical Services director-general Dr Somsak Akksilp said on Wednesday. The Budget Bureau is in the process of considering the request, he said.

If the Budget Bureau completes consideration of the matter, it will be tabled at a Cabinet meeting tomorrow. The department has ordered a total of 50,000 courses, or 2 million tablets. The drug is expected to arrive in Thailand in January 2022.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40008362

My understanding is that the pills are not preventative. They are to alleviate the effects of the virus once infected. So the social measures required are either completely different from the vax measures, or are not required at all.

I have heard something before...... but there are many commitees, FDA GPO and parliament discussions neede before get approval so in with a bit of luck end of next year they can order

Why on Earth does he have to be issuing an instruction to buy a drug that will save lives......what the hell is Anutin doing?

He needs to appear to be doing something this time in order to call for an early election next year.

Thailands PM wants early procurement, I want his early retirement..

You know what happened to want.

 

2 hours ago, puck2 said:

it is a good idea to replace the vaccine by pills, if effective. But it has to be appoved by science if effective.

 

But replacing the vaccines by the pills has a lot of consequences. Can the pills against covid replace all the laws and orders concerning the necessary (double) anti-covid vaccines?

The pills won't replace the vaccine.

Not quite the panacea it seems to be.

 

Only effective if taken very early during the infection cycle and confirmation that you are infected will require a PCR test which can take too long.

Stable door still swinging on its hinges???

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

Why on Earth does he have to be issuing an instruction to buy a drug that will save lives......what the hell is Anutin doing?

 

... 555, Bob the builder? No, I mean Dr. Bob? Sitting on his thumbs most likely, and on both at the same time which I suppose is kind of an achievement as well ... !

 

PM is in charge...

That man there, order some vaccines.

That man there, order some pills..

That man there...sort out the issues in the South...stop the temples and historical artefacts from flooding, oops, from a surfeit of water.

 

that man there...Can't think for themselves

Better make a call to Siam Bioscience, big guy.  It's not a pandemic unless the right people are getting their cut. ????

11 hours ago, ukrules said:

They will attempt to get them for free next by manufacturing themselves

 

4 hours ago, Used2LuvThailand said:

Better make a call to Siam Bioscience, big guy.  It's not a pandemic unless the right people are getting their cut. ????

"Free"  is difficult to define in a Thai context.......  but I am sure the general will feel obliged to offer the opportunity to SB....

19 hours ago, Mavideol said:

deja vue... they did the same with the vaccines and look where did it get them, last on the line 555

Yes they seek only free donations, and even then it may never happen due to the paperwork being buried on someone's desk while they are out of the office. 

19 hours ago, puck2 said:

Officer: "Show me the pills!"

Answer: "Are at home".

Do you carry pills to treat other illnesses you don't suffer from? 

Timing is a big issue that renders these drugs only partially useful.  Perhaps in an acute pandemic situation they would be very welcome as they might deployed very quickly, and fill the inevitable delays in mass vaccination that younger people in particular have to endure.

 

To be honest, the passive vaccine (ready made antibodies) offered by AZ will be far more effective, as it is both preventative and curative.

20 hours ago, djayz said:

As we have seen in the past, "instructing" and "carrying out" don't always go hand in hand. 

He is not capable of both

Still no moderna for me and wifey paid back in April. 

 

Has anyone received first lot yet?

20 hours ago, puck2 said:

Prayut's thoughts don't go more than to the end of a table. In genral, it is a good idea to replace the vaccine by pills, if effective. But it has to be appoved by science if effective.

 

But replacing the vaccines by the pills has a lot of consequences. Can the pills against covid replace all the laws and orders concerning the necessary (double) anti-covid vaccines? I.e., if you go to the haircutter, leaving the province or the Thai country, going into the pub or a bar, reducing the distance to the neighbor sitting in a bus, train or anywhere in the publich area???

 

The list goes on .... and the cheating will do so, too.

 

Officer/police in the airport: "Where is your required vaccination document?"

Answer: "Pfizer’s Paxlovid or Merck’s Molnupiravir COVID, don't need the vaccines."

Officer: "Show me the pills!"

Answer: "Are at home".

 

Officer confused. Everbody can say this (unapproved). And that can (will) reduce the covid pandemie???

 

I guess , Prayut did not yet think about these consequences in the bureaucracy.

 

 

 

Nobody, including Prayut, suggested replacing vaccines with pills. After a slow start, he is trying to acquire all the weapons he can against the virus… sooner rather than later. It will take a combination of antivirals and vaccines to control Covid.

First thing he needs to do is that the country is 100% vaccinated

Did you know that half a pill works as well as the full dose.  Amazing.

Let’s be honest here, does anyone seriously think that he’s going to pay the $700 per course for your average Somchai when initially he wasn’t willing to pay $15 or less per shot for a decent vaccine? He’ll buy some for himself and his cronies to keep them happy and that will be it!