The United States provided additional COVID-19 supplies worth more than $1.5 million (49.5 million baht) to help Thailand fight COVID-19.

 

The Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, Michael Heath, handed over COVID-19 diagnostic and vaccine delivery supplies to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul, today at the Ministry of Public Health. The supplies provided on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) include reagents for Real-Time RT-PCR diagnostic tests, next generation sequencing for variant detection, vaccine delivery supplies, and personal protective equipment.

 

“Our support reflects a sustained effort by the United States and the Royal Thai Governments to work in close partnership to mitigate the pandemic’s impact. These medical supplies from the American people will help support health care workers and vaccine delivery, getting shots into arms to protect high risk populations and vulnerable communities as Thailand responds to the most recent wave of COVID-19,” said Chargé d’Affaires Heath.

 

This assistance will extend delivery of safe and effective vaccines to highest risk populations, reducing severe illness and hospitalizations resulting from COVID-19. Additional support for diagnostic tests and related equipment will aid efforts to slow transmission, enable robust variant tracking, and enhance the Royal Thai Government’s response to the pandemic.

 

Full story: https://th.usembassy.gov/united-states-provides-thailand-additional-diagnostic-and-vaccine-delivery-supplies-to-combat-covid-19/

 

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

The Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, Michael Heath, handed over COVID-19 diagnostic and vaccine delivery supplies to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, Anutin Charnvirakul, today at the Ministry of Public Health.

Wasn't it just last week that Anutin was jeering at the United States and its response to Covid, especially compared to his own work in Thailand?  And now the US turns around gives him another chunk of money and/or supplies. This is why US diplomacy is so weak. Does anyone think the Chinese would have responded to Thai criticism of their health response by giving Thailand more money?

Edited February 8, 20224 yr by John Drake

20 minutes ago, John Drake said:

This is why US diplomacy is so weak.

Perhaps this is more about trying to control COVID and not intended solely for diplomacy. 

28 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Wasn't it just last week that Anutin was jeering at the United States and its response to Covid, especially compared to his own work in Thailand?  And now the US turns around gives him another chunk of money and/or supplies. This is why US diplomacy is so weak. Does anyone think the Chinese would have responded to Thai criticism of their health response by giving Thailand more money?

Possibly the US government are working on the possibility of something of a "sea change" in the Thai political situation relatively soon, and are setting themselves up for it?

 

Were the military to fall from favour, a bit of "soft power" may not go amiss.

5 hours ago, John Drake said:

This is why US diplomacy is so weak.

Money, can't purchase more with tax dollars until they (USA) use up what they got. Solution is to give it away, then they can buy (from friendly suppliers) more. Scam being played on the American tax payer. Plenty hospitals in USA that'd be happy to receive those supplies.

17 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

Money, can't purchase more with tax dollars until they (USA) use up what they got. Solution is to give it away, then they can buy (from friendly suppliers) more. Scam being played on the American tax payer. Plenty hospitals in USA that'd be happy to receive those supplies.

Come to think of it, Thailand doesn’t buy much from the USA, probably due to Thailand’s very high customs fees.  But they’re sure happy to take the free stuff.

22 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

Money, can't purchase more with tax dollars until they (USA) use up what they got. Solution is to give it away, then they can buy (from friendly suppliers) more. Scam being played on the American tax payer. Plenty hospitals in USA that'd be happy to receive those supplies.

American taxpayer, retired here in Thailand. I am proud to see this type of USA support.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The United States provided additional COVID-19 supplies worth more than $1.5 million (49.5 million baht) to help Thailand fight COVID-19.

One way street again... what does Thailand do for USA.... except the odd influx of females.

Is it better to get rid of old stock to make room for the updated products  complements of US tax payer? ????

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

One way street again... what does Thailand do for USA.... except the odd influx of females.

Maybe that’s enough.

Most news coming out of the US is quite depressing.

Drum beats of civil war coming from both sides.

Creeping towards authoritarianism.

Hard fought civil rights progress won over generations being reversed.

A government in gridlock about most important issues.

So even a tidbit of good news like this reflecting what America should be is most welcome!

Edited February 8, 20224 yr by Jingthing

9 hours ago, koratkarlos said:

Perhaps this is more about trying to control COVID and not intended solely for diplomacy. 

The previous "strong" president would had waited for it to "Magically go away"  

If covid is to come under control, it has to happen around the world ,

With international travel being what it is now days, No country is an island when it comes to covid, or other viruses . 

The worst thing that ever happened in this pandemic was the vilification of WHO. by some politicians for personal political gain.  What should had happened  would had been that all the countries would had got together under the umbrella of the WHO and developed a coherent coordinated strategy and policy for combating this pandemic. 

To those who will go after me,  having bought into the narrative against the WHO, 

Are there problems with the WHO? sure there are, what large organization consisting of people from different countries does not have problems, But the operative phrase here is "different countries" , For something that occurs in different countries you need to work with people from different countries,  

Is it to be assumed that the "provision" terminology is supposed to imply  "free" ?

7 hours ago, hotchilli said:

One way street again... what does Thailand do for USA.... except the odd influx of females.

even that example is about Americans paying for Thais! I don't think Thailand does anything for the US unless it involves military strategy? otherwise, yeah, it's a one way highway to Thailand????

It's only the other week that Anutin said that Thailand had enough vaccine for everyone including a 3rd booster dose,, so why are the getting a free hand out yet again.. 

 

13 hours ago, hotchilli said:

One way street again... what does Thailand do for USA.... except the odd influx of females.

Provides unlimited supply of Issan brides to desperate old man.

With all the donations coming in from the US and zero going the other way, would it not be appropriate for US citizens to get a better deal when it comes to Visa's, Insurance, permanent residency and the right to buy land?.

21 hours ago, John Drake said:

Wasn't it just last week that Anutin was jeering at the United States and its response to Covid, especially compared to his own work in Thailand?  And now the US turns around gives him another chunk of money and/or supplies. This is why US diplomacy is so weak. Does anyone think the Chinese would have responded to Thai criticism of their health response by giving Thailand more money?

Yes, because politicizing covid is the way Merica should operate (eye roll). 

On 2/8/2022 at 10:07 AM, herfiehandbag said:

Possibly the US government are working on the possibility of something of a "sea change" in the Thai political situation relatively soon, and are setting themselves up for it?

 

Were the military to fall from favour, a bit of "soft power" may not go amiss.

"Were the military to fall from favour,"  What???? Favour???? The unelected soldier posing as a PM and his Junta are favourites of whom???? Did you not know that they stole Thailand from the people at the point of a gun 8 years ago. Just what is favourable about that????

2 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

"Were the military to fall from favour,"  What???? Favour???? The unelected soldier posing as a PM and his Junta are favourites of whom???? Did you not know that they stole Thailand from the people at the point of a gun 8 years ago. Just what is favourable about that????

Calm down. I am very much aware of how this regime came to power, and subsequently "legitimised" themselves. I have long been amongst their most vocal critics on here.

 

I might as easily said fall from power - in this context it means much the same. " Fall from favour" is a metaphor for that.

 

15 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Most news coming out of the US is quite depressing.

Drum beats of civil war coming from both sides.

Creeping towards authoritarianism.

Hard fought civil rights progress won over generations being reversed.

A government in gridlock about most important issues.

So even a tidbit of good news like this reflecting what America should be is most welcome!

"Drum beats of civil war coming from both sides." 1861 all over again JT? Biden as Lincoln?

Who is going to be the Robert. E. Lee? ????

8 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

"Drum beats of civil war coming from both sides." 1861 all over again JT? Biden as Lincoln?

Who is going to be the Robert. E. Lee? ????

just a little joke, lighten up. ????

1 hour ago, possum1931 said:

"Drum beats of civil war coming from both sides." 1861 all over again JT? Biden as Lincoln?

Who is going to be the Robert. E. Lee? ????

If you are going to have  Robert E. Lee, more to the point we go is going to be "Daisy Duke"?

All this should be going to genuine third-world countries where the next Covid variants are incubating right this minute.