Friday Covid-19 update: 9,692 new infections, 67 deaths

Today, Thailand has reported another 9,692 new Covid-19 cases and 67 Covid-related deaths. 615 of the new infections are in Thai prisons. More details to come later.

As infections continue to surge and concerns mount over the highly-contagious Delta variant, the Thai government is considering limiting exports of locally produced AstraZeneca doses. The National Vaccine Institute and the Department of Disease Control are in talks to reduce the number of doses that will be exported as local manufacturer Siam Bioscience has been unable to meet its production commitment.

As the country grapples with a shortage of effective vaccines to combat the Delta variant, the government hopes to hold back some doses that had been earmarked for export and administer them locally instead. Heath officials plan to administer a third, or booster, shot of AstraZeneca to healthcare workers who’ve already received 2 doses of the Sinovac vaccine, which has been shown to be less effective against the Delta variant.

In other news, there is confusion over reports that the Thonburi Healthcare Group plans to sign a deal to import 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, after German manufacturer BioNTech denied all knowledge of the purchase.

“We are not in negotiations with the company you mentioned below about vaccine supply. We are in ongoing discussions with Thailand’s Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health only.”

Meanwhile, the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation has filed a defamation claim against THG chairman Boon Vanasin over allegations that the state agency is making a profit on imported Moderna doses.