China pressured Thai government officials to not criticize Sinovac vaccine

[webfact]

 

By Arun Saronchai

 

The Chinese Government, through its embassy in Bangkok, pressured Thai government officials at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to not criticize the Sinovac vaccine multiple sources have confirmed to the Thai Enquirer.

 

The Sinovac vaccine, which was developed by a Chinese company, has been shown to reduce fatalities in large sample sizes but is also less effective than many western-made/licensed vaccines in preventing infections.

 

As a result, the Thai government’s insistence on relying only on Sinovac vaccines and locally-produced AstraZeneca vaccines in the initial phases of the pandemic was met with criticism from the public.

 

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Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/34974/china-pressured-thai-government-officials-to-not-criticize-sinovac-vaccine/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2021-11-15

 

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[ezzra]

Yes.. don't go rubbish our products, we know it's rubbish, although if you think about it, common sense dictate that, we, the one that unleashed this calamity of a disaster on the world should have come up with a vaccine for you'd think, but all we have is this rubbish 2 vaxex no body wants and we're trying to give it away now...

[Snig27]

Maybe a free submarine to keep quiet. 

 

To be fair, the countries that are relying on it, in general seem to have a better track record with this virus than many who have gone for western jabs.

[Rimmer]

A troll post and an incomprehensible post has already been removed

[placeholder]

27 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Yes.. don't go rubbish our products, we know it's rubbish, although if you think about it, common sense dictate that, we, the one that unleashed this calamity of a disaster on the world should have come up with a vaccine for you'd think, but all we have is this rubbish 2 vaxex no body wants and we're trying to give it away now...

What is so hard to understand about the fact that even though A may not be as effective as B, doesn't mean that A is rubbish. Lots of lives have been saved thanks to Sinovac's vaccine. And before the Delta variant appeared, it was very effective indeed.

After vaccinating 95 percent of adults, a Brazilian city is returning to normal

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/brazil-vaccines-coronavirus-covid-serrana-normal

[John Drake]

What's discouraging about this news is that Western embassies apparently apply no pressure whatsoever. Sure, I don't know the inner workings or secret relationships between the Thai government and, say, the US government. But I can see when China gets results for its citizens and when the US gets/does nothing. Thailand spat in the face of the US when it turned down Tammy Duckworth's 1 million Pfizer doses. US citizens had to crawl around and beg for Covid shots, while nationals only venues were set up for people from China and France. One person even reported that the initial 1.5 million Pfizer doses were parceled out to organization such as the Singapore Chamber of Commerce, which then did a separate vaccination for its citizens. China takes care of its citizens and its businesses. That is why the signs in Thailand are increasingly in Chinese. Looks to me like the West, and especially the US, can only beg and grovel, when it should be pounding on the table.

[placeholder]

From the article:

“I mean, even on its own the merits for Sinovac are there. It was the only vaccine available to be delivered in large quantities and is shown to prevent death,” the source said. 

This is nonsense. Thailand failed to approve the Pfizer vaccine for months, even though, unlike Sinovac's vaccine, it had actually passed Phase 3 trials.

[HaoleBoy]

Now maybe there can be some reporting on how much specific Gov officials made off the purchases of Sinovac.  What is the price paid as well - let's be sure to include the extra booster shot needed immediately for those that got 2 jabs of Sinovac.

 

Then look at the purchases of the Chinese ATK test kits ... 

[starky]

This OP delivered to you fresh from Captain Obvious.

 

[placeholder]

1 hour ago, placeholder said:

From the article:

“I mean, even on its own the merits for Sinovac are there. It was the only vaccine available to be delivered in large quantities and is shown to prevent death,” the source said. 

This is nonsense. Thailand failed to approve the Pfizer vaccine for months, even though, unlike Sinovac's vaccine, it had actually passed Phase 3 trials.

I should have noted that the Astra Zeneca vaccine was also on offer and at a far cheaper price than what Thailand paid for Sinovac's vaccine.

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, Snig27 said:

To be fair, the countries that are relying on it, in general seem to have a better track record with this virus than many who have gone for western jabs.

Well, the countries who have cosied up to China and gone with Sinovac tend not to have the greatest record in terms of transparency of information. Thailand being one example.

 

Either that, or they're using the Chinese test kits as well ????.

[dinsdale]

If there was nothing to critisize with this product then why put pressure on not to critisize it. Remember it only just got over the line with the WHO with a score of 51. I wonder if certain pressures were not used there also.

[moe666]

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

What's discouraging about this news is that Western embassies apparently apply no pressure whatsoever. Sure, I don't know the inner workings or secret relationships between the Thai government and, say, the US government. But I can see when China gets results for its citizens and when the US gets/does nothing. Thailand spat in the face of the US when it turned down Tammy Duckworth's 1 million Pfizer doses. US citizens had to crawl around and beg for Covid shots, while nationals only venues were set up for people from China and France. One person even reported that the initial 1.5 million Pfizer doses were parceled out to organization such as the Singapore Chamber of Commerce, which then did a separate vaccination for its citizens. China takes care of its citizens and its businesses. That is why the signs in Thailand are increasingly in Chinese. Looks to me like the West, and especially the US, can only beg and grovel, when it should be pounding on the table.

When you leave the US do not expect health care of any kind from the US government, that has always been their policy. I am a US citizen and I  expect nothing from my government and those that do are bound to be disappointed. I did get  two shots of pfizer for the expat only distribution in Chiang Mai. No need to grovel just be patient.

By the way the signs are in Chinese because of the number of Chinese tourist who have visited, that is what a smart tourist authority does.

[Eric Loh]

I would hesitate to put much weight on Thai Enquirer which is a media website to report factual news. If TE revealed their sources, I may change my mind. 

[elgenon]

Not to worry. China always has believed peoples' best interests are more important than profit.

[4MyEgo]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

As a result, the Thai government’s insistence on relying only on Sinovac vaccines and locally-produced AstraZeneca vaccines in the initial phases of the pandemic was met with criticism from the public.

How many lives could have been saved ?

 

I would be really interested to see a graph of those who have passed from double jabbed vaccines administered, e.g. Sinovac, Sinopharm, AZ, Pfizer, Moderna.

 

Do I think the death rate from those who passed after being double jabbed from Sinovac would be at the top......hmmm, I doubt I will ever see such a graph to be able to make an informed decision, in the meantime I will continue to believe that the Chinese stuff is inferior and the public have every right to not want it.

[nobodysfriend]

Don't criticize anything from China . Big brother does not like this . They are the #1 in the world already and above all criticism .... they think ...

[Karma80]

Thailand delayed doing anything at all believing it would profit from a much proclaimed "hub of vaccination production in SE Asia", until the couldn't deliver. By their own doing found themselves with no alternative other than Sinovac as the public demanded action after the famous "what will be, will be" holiday weekend.

 

Of course China would have told officials not to be critical of Sinovac, but Thailand was a willing participant to save face. Then multiple sources tell the papers of the poor Thai government bullied by a superpower, so it wasn't really our fault.

 

A very Thai story.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, webfact said:

he Chinese Government, through its embassy in Bangkok, pressured Thai government officials at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic to not criticize the Sinovac vaccine multiple sources have confirmed to the Thai Enquirer.

Which was evident from the actions of certain officials during early days of Covid...

Must bow to the masters demands.

[spidermike007]

This request was likely very easily granted. Fealty is an amazing thing. 

 

Thailand could have been way ahead of the curve had they not been so cheap with their people, and had they demonstrated some vision and went with the higher efficacy vaccines. 

 

Too much to ask? 

[Callmeishmael]

I got a message from my school a couple of days ago:  Any teacher that got 2 Sinovac OR Sinopharm shots should get a 3rd booster shot of a different vaccine before coming back to school.

 

It seems that even Thai-Chinese school owners don't trust either of the Chinese vaccines!

[wwest5829]

16 hours ago, moe666 said:

When you leave the US do not expect health care of any kind from the US government, that has always been their policy. I am a US citizen and I  expect nothing from my government and those that do are bound to be disappointed. I did get  two shots of pfizer for the expat only distribution in Chiang Mai. No need to grovel just be patient.

By the way the signs are in Chinese because of the number of Chinese tourist who have visited, that is what a smart tourist authority does.

Just a footnote concerning US health care outside USA territory. Those of us who worked in civilian occupations, paying into Medicare and now retired do not have access to US Medicare. However, if you worked and earned full retirement in the US military, you have access to healthcare anywhere globally through Tricare. I am a US citizen and expect some services from the US government while outside uS territory ... for example, service provided by US Embassies. I encourage the millions of Americans retired as Expats to lobby for equal healthcare coverage ... civilian, and military alike.

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

This request was likely very easily granted. Fealty is an amazing thing. 

 

Thailand could have been way ahead of the curve had they not been so cheap with their people, and had they demonstrated some vision and went with the higher efficacy vaccines. 

 

Too much to ask? 

Thailand like all other countries thought they were ahead of the curve until the more contagious and deadly Delta variant strike and now all countries are clamouring for higher efficacy vaccines and booster shots. 

[Nabby]

First, China destroys Thailand's tourism industry by unleashing Covid, and then it pressures them into stating that their snake oil Sinovac trash is not sub-par. What a bunch of spineless, pathetic cowards the Thai government is. 

[jonclark]

Always amusing to see foreigners bully the Thais in their own backyard. 

[DBath]

19 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

I would hesitate to put much weight on Thai Enquirer….

Of course you would. Yet, you’re regularly on here sticking up for China.
 

IMO your the most vocal supporter of China I’ve seen here - by far. 

[rudi49jr]

Jeez, what a shocker. Wouldn’t be surprised if China told Prayuth how to ties his shoes.

[DBath]

3 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Thailand like all other countries thought they were ahead of the curve until the more contagious and deadly Delta variant strike and now all countries are clamouring for higher efficacy vaccines and booster shots. 

This doesn’t change the fact that many consider China’s vax’s to be inferior - justifiably so. 
 

And I have a very strong suspicion you’d be here singing China’s praises regardless of the source of such reporting as what was posted by the OP. 

[DBath]

2 hours ago, jonclark said:

Always amusing to see foreigners bully the Thais in their own backyard. 

We give back what we get, I suppose. 

[DBath]

29 minutes ago, rudi49jr said:

Jeez, what a shocker. Wouldn’t be surprised if China told Prayuth how to ties his shoes.

Likely, while he’s standing, bent over and presenting himself. ????????????