Coronavirus (Covid-19)

China ready to export vaccine to Thailand, delivery will be “as soon as possible”

Published

3 weeks ago

Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Maya Taylor

China ready to export vaccine to Thailand, delivery will be “as soon as possible” | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Thai Rath

The Acting Chinese Ambassador to Thailand has confirmed that vaccine manufacturer Sinovac Biotech is ready to export its Covid-19 jab to Thailand. Yang Xin was on a courtesy call with Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha, when he confirmed the vaccine has been approved for export to the Kingdom. The exact date when Thailand can expect to receive the vaccine has not been confirmed, with Yang saying delivery will be “as soon as possible”.

The Thai government has come in for criticism from some corners for being slow to roll out a national vaccination programme. In neighbouring Indonesia, the national vaccine rollout began in January, while in Singapore, the first vaccinations were administered at the end of December.

Opposition politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has criticised the government for seemingly dragging its feet, saying its reliance on just 1 firm to produce the vaccine locally is slowing down the process. Siam Bioscience, which is wholly owned by the Crown Property Bureau, is the sole manufacturer for the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine in Thailand.

During his call with Yang, the PM confirmed Thailand’s commitment to a national vaccine rollout in which at least half the population will be vaccinated. The government has already ordered 2 million doses of the Chinese vaccine, along with 26 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and a further 35 million doses reserved.

Government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri says the PM also used the call with Yang to pass on his best wishes for the Chinese New Year and congratulated China for its response to the pandemic. Both men reaffirmed their countries’ willingness to continue working together, with Yang saying relations between the 2 have strengthened further, despite the challenges posed by Covid-19.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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News Categories:Coronavirus (Covid-19)Thailand

38 Comments

Gosport
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 10:16 am
Perfect, hope I can get it.
Reply
- Joe
  Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 10:25 am
  Yes your brain can’t get any worse so you might as well take it.
  Reply
Keith
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 10:27 am
don’t think I will be queuing up to get the Chinese vaccine
Reply
- Crispy
  Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 11:08 pm
  Not interested in sp汉e字aking ch汉字inese?
  Reply
Ben
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 10:28 am
Examples like this help to explain why Thailand is becoming closer to the Chinese. They show up and help at the right times and don’t criticize. We could learn from this but we don’t and criticize more.
Reply
- Gosport
  Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 10:39 am
  Some talk the talk, others walk the walk. after getting the jabs, my papaya cart can run as smooth as silk.
  Reply
- Issan John
  Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 11:17 am
  Spot on, Ben.
  China, India and Russia have offered the vaccine to everyone, as well as the technology, even to their oldest (and current) adversaries.
  Meanwhile the West, particularly the UK, EU and USA, are squabbling amongst themselves, putting “me first”, but happily criticizing everyone else.
  Vaccine diplomacy, but people remember who helped them when they were in need and who didn’t.
  Reply
  - EdwardV
    Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 11:59 am
    Who is the US criticizing or squabbling with? If Thailand wants to cozy up to China even more, go for it. You might think they don’t want anything, but China never gives anything away for free. You just don’t know what the payment will be yet. Hopefully for Thailand it won’t be too much.
    Reply
    - James Heikkinen
      Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 12:44 pm
      The USA asks for nothing? just your soul lol
      Reply
    - Issan John
      Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 3:45 pm
      Up until last month, pretty well anybody and everybody – countries, organisations, the UN, the WHO, etc, etc. It would probably be easier to ask who the US wasn’t squabbling with.
      Reply
      - EdwardV
        Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 7:33 pm
        That’s a vague generic nothing answer. Pretty much what I expected. The topic was vaccines, not life in general. I can’t really think of anyone the US has had issues over that with that. What is that saying you like so much: don’t let facts get in the way of a good rant. Here is one I like: hello pot, meet kettle.
      - Issan John
        Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 8:08 pm
        Well, Ed V, you asked the question – if you phrased it badly that’s hardly my fault.
        If you’re talking about vaccines Covid and asking who the US is criticising and squabbling with, the WHO and the UN are pretty clear starters.
        What countries has the USA given vaccines to?
        How much has the USA contributed to Covax?
        To save you the time checking – zilch, nada, nothing, so far not a solitary cent.
        Hardly leading by example and winning friends.
      - Baroness
        Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 8:47 am
        Well the US did not squabble with Canada because our “super smart PM JT” has put all Canada’s eggs in the same basket since the beginning of the Pandemic.
        Of course our Federal Health Expect is nothing more than a former WHO employee who was appointed to the WHO by her master XI-Jiping the recommended to JT by Xi-Jiping himself. I introduce to you Dr. Tam. Her plans was to open dentention camps to “park” people who did not want to be vaccinated. Luckily for the Canadians, this is what happened:
        https://nationalpost.com/news/how-ottawa-utterly-botched-canadas-covid-vaccine-acquisition
        Women still find JT attractive so we may have him for another term.
        End of story.
  - Toby Andrews
    Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 1:25 pm
    What is wrong with the UK, EU, and USA putting “me first”?
    This is what the Thais do all the time.
    I hope the Chinese charge the Thais high for the vaccine. The Thais will charge the ferang high for it. They will make money on the vaccines.
    By the way, five hospitals in Bangkok are charging ferangs more for a covid test than Thais.
    Check Kaosodenglish.com
    Do you really think that the UK, EU, and USA care about a friendly relationship with a people that do this sort of outrage?
    Reply
    - Steve
      Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 2:14 pm
      I. J. Has gone completly native. Astrazenica which was developed in partnership by Oxford, “a place in the Uk” university has been given the go ahead to be produced in Thailand from what I can gather. Thank you Uk.
      Reply
    - Lucas
      Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 3:01 pm
      They payed for vaccines development ensuring purchase even if pandemic finish so now requesting what EU,US payed for
      Reply
    - Issan John
      Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 3:47 pm
      The UK, EU and USA don’t seem to care about a friendly relationship with anyone 😮
      Reply
  - Alavan
    Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 12:05 am
    So Russia, saying that they can export as soon as they finished vaccinating their own citizens, let’s say this summer, is not putting theirdelves first?
    Reply
  - James R
    Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 1:57 am
    Issan John
    We in the UK are not squabbling with anyone, we are just rightly so getting on with vaccination our own people first.
    We created our own vaccine in concert with other investors and international companies, we are producing it here in three separate centres and have so far vaccinated over 12 million people, all people over the age of 50 will be vaccinated by the end of March this year.
    Now if you prefer the system in Thailand where vaccines have be ordered very late in the day, you are at the mercy of other countries to supply you with the drug, you believe all the nonsense the government tells you there then that is up to you.
    You keep your system and we will keep ours, we know which system is more efficient, honest and open and it is not yours.
    You can of course fly back to England to get your two jabs for free, as will be the case when you are old (80’s) and need real medical attention from the NHS as you will not be able to afford the hundreds of thousands of pounds it will cost in Thailand.
    Ps, do not hold your breath while waiting for the vaccines to arrive ‘as soon as possible’ as you might suffocate. 🤣
    Reply
Issan John
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 10:32 am
FWIW, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit is NOT an “opposition politician”.
Rightly or wrongly, he has been banned from being an MP or holding any political office.
Reply
- James R
  Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 2:29 am
  Issan John
  Yes and wrongly.
  A great system eh?
  Reply
Mister Stretch
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 10:33 am
I wouldn’t want this one. In Brazilian trials the rate was about 50%, but we don’t really know for sure, as the company asked the Brazilian government to withhold the final numbers.
To date, it appears the SinoVac vaccine is the lowest, in effectiveness, of all the global competitors.
It’s no wonder they are ready to “ship to Thailand as soon as possible.”
A waste of money and effort, in my opinion.
Reply
- Issan John
  Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 11:11 am
  Not quite the whole story, as the “50%” included those with mild symptoms, while the efficacy was 100% at preventing serious cases, hospitalization and death.
  I think it’s rather telling that the same countries, companies and people that are trashing the SinoVac vaccine because it’s only 50% effective at preventing mild cases even if it’s 100% effective at preventing serious ones, are saying that it “doesn’t matter” that the Astra Zeneca vaccine is only 10% effective against mild cases of the SA variant because it’s 90%+ effective against serious ones.
  … and FWIW, SinoVac didn’t “ask the Brazilian government to withhold the final numbers” but asked them to withhold them until they could be released with the full published results – just as AZ, Pfizer, Moderna et al did, with similar changes to the information that had been leaked earlier.
  Reply
  - Fred glue
    Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 2:23 pm
    Good boy IJ, that’s what it was designed for…
    Reply
    - Issan John
      Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 3:48 pm
      Yes … that’s rather my point 🙂
      Reply
Patrick Kelly
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 12:55 pm
It’s called the Wuhan Flu for a reason. Then the perpetrators come and rescue you. Lockdown locals & China apologists are one in the same apparently.
Reply
- Slugger
  Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 1:08 pm
  No-one calls it the ‘Wuhan Flu’ unless they are very, very ignorant.
  Reply
  - Patrick Kelly
    Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 12:59 am
    3,000 pigs at Hong Kong farm to be culled after African swine fever appears to be spreading.
    Headline from South China Morning Post today…..
    It appears the Morning Post has engaged in ignorance!
    Reply
Patrick Kelly
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 1:20 pm
China is the country of origin and Wuhan was the epicenter producing patient zero unleashing this plague on the world. Eight Chinese scientists who tried to sound the alarm were denounced, gagged and reprimanded by authorities. A doctor who warned about the virus died of it.
China apologists can’t handle the truth. What an abysmal way to live .
Reply
Patrick Kelly
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 1:28 pm
Researchers from the Wuhan Center for Disease Control & Prevention and the University of Illinois reported that a reanalysis of throat swabs from Wuhan patients with flu-like symptoms found that some were positive for COVID-19, suggesting community transmission of the virus in Wuhan in early January 2020.
Yep that’s checks out….hence the term Wuhan Flu. U can’t change history, even if you are a China apologists.
Reply
- Issan John
  Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 8:26 pm
  History actually shows that, despite some initial doubts, the University of Barcelona identified SARS Cov 2 in a sample of Barcelona waste water collected on March 12 2019, so if “U can’t change history” it would be more correct to call it the Barcelona Sewage Flu 😮
  Reply
luca
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 3:56 pm
China is a communist dictatorship, there is not even freedom of expression, whatever China does is for a purpose, increase its power starting with neighboring nations, believe in the good faith of the Chinese is ridiculous, the government can kill those who do not submit, such as the uguri for example or Jack Ma, the very wealthy owner of aliexpress, was sent to re-education for a month, trusting the Chinese is not possible, even if their vaccine works they cannot produce enough doses for the population Chinese imagine if they can do it for another three billion people, they tell lies just like an orange clown in america, but american democracy has sent him away, in china this is not possible
Reply
- Tores
  Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 5:59 pm
  There are a lot of lies in the Western media about Uighurs.
  They don’t talk about the fact that China is mainly attacking those who have converted to Wahhabism and who have carried out many terrorist attacks in China, nor about the fact that many Uighurs have fought in Islamic terrorist groups in Libya and some are still fighting in Syria.
  It is the same with Myanmar, the conflict that triggered the Rohingya refugee crisis took place after the return of Rohingya converted to Wahhabism, trained for the war in Saudi Arabia and who fought in terrorist groups in Libya and Syria.
  Reply
Issan John
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 4:54 pm
If the vaccines work, what would most people prefer to have?
A vaccine from a dictatorship, or a wave from a democracy?
Reply
Patrick Kelly
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 11:16 pm
Look….the China apologists Wolf Warriors are appearing on these pages. Amazing how this despicable species pop up to defend the China Communist Party. The moral corruption continues unabated apparently.
Reply
Leo Z
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 1:51 am
The Chinese vaccines have become a political issue in China (more specifically, a foreign policy photo op). Two pieces of information you won’t see in Chinese press releases: a) They have imported 100-200 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, b) A Chinese company is currently producing 400 million AstraZeneca vaccines in China under license.
So be careful folks, do your due diligence. The testing and approval process in China was sketchy, plus there is a history of vaccine scandals in China. All this is easily searchable.
Reply
Ian
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 3:06 am
Dud ij actually call the Thai government a dictatorship omg he’s seen the light 555
Reply
Ian
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 3:10 am
And one other thing correct me if I’m wrong or even if im right ij because you always try but make yourself look a bigger fool but haven’t you been denousing this vaccine for months and saying you’ll wait for Astra zenica or phyzer 555
Reply

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Health officials say 50% of Thais will receive Covid-19 vaccine this year

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Maya Taylor

A seasoned writer, with a degree in Creative Writing. Over ten years' experience in producing blog and magazine articles, news reports and website content.

Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Phuket holds vaccine administration rehearsal as it waits for green light

Published

22 hours ago

Friday, February 26, 2021

Ann Carter

Phuket holds vaccine administration rehearsal as it waits for green light | The Thaiger

Phuket is rehearsing procedures to ready themselves for the Covid‐19 vaccine administration green light. A rehearsal at Vachira Hospital’s Lan Muang Khao open area was held late yesterday to iron out any kinks in the administration process. Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong watched over the procedures along with other health officials.

Pichet says the first vaccine round of 4,000 doses should arrive early in March, with the 2nd and 3rd set of doses, 16,000 and 48,000 respectively, to arrive in April and May.

“The government recognises the importance of the affected areas of the economy where the epidemic situation of COVID-19 must be stopped and has allocated the COVID-19 vaccine to Phuket Province to build herd immunity, restore the economy, return a smile to Thailand.”

“We are preparing to COVID-19 mass vaccination to build confidence among the people that they will receive a quality, safe vaccine and to receive follow-up care after it has been administered.”

Pichet says Phuket’s first target groups to receive the vaccine include medical and public health personnel, with others on the frontlines to come next.

Then, workers aged 18-59 years old, people with underlying diseases including chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and obesity will follow.

“People with severe neurological conditions and pregnant women should be wary of taking the vaccine, as well as women who are breastfeeding and people with immunodeficiency.”

The procedure to get vaccinated starts by recipients undergoing screening by having their temperatures taken, and then sanitising their hands before entering the administration area. Then, they will move their way through a series of steps, detailed below:

Step 1: Register

Step 2: Record weight and blood pressure

Step 3: Pass the screening process by have their medical history and risk assessment recorded and then signing a consent to receive the vaccine

Step 4: Wait for vaccination

Step 5: Vaccination

Step 6: Rest for 30 minutes, while being observed for symptoms. Then scan the official Line account “หมอพร้อม” (“Doctor Ready”)

Step 7: Pass a final check before receiving a document confirming vaccination

Pichet says health workers will follow up with vaccine recipients after 1,7, and 30 days from being vaccinated to monitor any adverse reactions.

Those who are set to receive their second jab will have appointments made for them. Those who receive the Sinovac vaccine will be scheduled to have their second doses 2 to 4 weeks after the first. AstraZeneca vaccine receivers will be scheduled for their second doses 10 to 12 weeks after the first.

SOURCE: The Phuket News

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Coronavirus (Covid-19)

PM to receive AstraZeneca vaccine on Sunday

Published

1 day ago

Friday, February 26, 2021

Maya Taylor

PM to receive AstraZeneca vaccine on Sunday | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Thai PBS World

The Thai PM, Prayut Chan-o-cha will receive the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday, while Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will receive the Chinese jab. According to a Bangkok Post report, Sopon Mekthon from the sub-committee on vaccine management says both politicians will receive their vaccines at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute. On Monday, the vaccination of priority groups in specific provinces will get underway.

Speaking about the arrival of the long-awaited vaccines yesterday, Anutin said the first batch would be distributed free of charge, with costs covered by the government.

“The vaccines are for Thais and those living in the country. Anyone who charges for the vaccine will face legal action.”

Thailand has taken delivery of 200,000 doses of the Chinese Sinovac jab and 117,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The arrival of the AstraZeneca jab took many by surprise, with no mention of its imminent arrival, unlike the PR hoopla surrounding the arrival of its Chinese counterpart. Another 800,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine are expected next month, followed by a further 1 million in April. After that, the rest of Thailand’s vaccines will be from AstraZeneca, with 26 million locally-manufactured doses expected to be available from May to June and another 35 million after that.

Nakorn Premsri from the National Vaccine Institute says the AstraZeneca vaccines arrived this week as a result of a commitment by the pharmaceutical giant to ensure equal access to Covid-19 vaccines.

“The AstraZeneca vaccines that arrived in Thailand must receive a lot release certificate from the Department of Medical Sciences before distribution to priority groups designated by the Department of Disease Control.”

Meanwhile, Thares Karasnairaviwong from the Department of Health Service Support says over 1.5 million village health volunteers are educating local residents about the importance of vaccination and establishing how many people fall into the priority groups who will be first to be inoculated.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Foreign tourists must use Covid-19 tracking app when travelling to Thailand

Published

2 days ago

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Caitlin Ashworth

Foreign tourists must use Covid-19 tracking app when travelling to Thailand | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Digital Government Development Agency

Foreign tourists travelling to Thailand will need to download the Covid-19 contact tracking mobile application “ThailandPlus” before arriving in Thailand and use it throughout their stay. The app will notify travellers if they have been in close contact with any confirmed cases.

Throughout their trip to Thailand, tourists will need to keep the app “on” and check in and out of various locations by scanning QR codes. The app requires access to the smartphone’s GPS , but the Tourism Authority of Thailand says the information collected will only be used for public health purposes and will not infringe on the tourists’ right to privacy.

Travellers will also need to upload a recent headshot as well as supply their Certificate of Entry number and reference ID from the Royal Thai Embassy.

The app is a spinoff to the “Thai Chana” and “Mor Chana” apps. All use GPS and Bluetooth as well as QR code scanning to detect the users’ locations. The apps sparked controversy and many Thais expressed concerns about their privacy, but the government has assured the public that information will be kept private.

The development of the app is a collaboration between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Digital Government Development Agency.

Click HERE to download the ThailandPlus.

SOURCE: TAT

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