Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Health Minister hits back at accusations of vaccine “failure”
Thailand’s Public Health Minister has refuted accusations that the government has failed to procure Covid-19 vaccines in a timely manner, demanding that the media stop confusing the public. A somewhat vexed Anutin Charnvirakul says Thailand cannot be compared with other countries as the Kingdom now has a deal to produce the AstraZeneca vaccine locally. This will make it easier to obtain and distribute the vaccines without having to wait on supplies from overseas.
“Thailand had devised a carefully planned vaccination programme. But when a second wave occurred, it was necessary to adjust the plan. While the second outbreak was the result of violations of laws – illegal entry and gambling — some are trying to point the finger of blame at public health officials. I don’t want anyone to compare the Thai public health system with other countries because Thailand ranked high on the list of countries that are successful in containing the Covid-19 outbreak.”
In January, Thailand was ranked 4th of 98 countries for its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Australian think-tank, The Lowy Institute. However, the government has been criticised by some for not signing up to the Covax agreement in the early days of the pandemic. Covax is an alliance of organisations, that includes the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organisation, which aims to guarantee the fair distribution of vaccines worldwide. The alliance supplies poor countries with free or low-cost vaccines, but Thailand is classified as “self-financing”.
The Bangkok Post reports that countries that joined the Covax agreement are now starting their vaccine rollouts. Thailand decided not to join the programme, choosing instead to strike deals with manufacturers directly. Anutin says the first doses of Covid-19 vaccines should arrive this month and will be given to priority individuals.
He has also confirmed that the private sector and local administrations are not authorised to purchase vaccines. Several business groups and representatives on the southern island of Phuket had proposed funding the vaccination of 70% of the island’s population, with the aim of achieving herd immunity and being able to open to international tourists from October 1.
Meanwhile, PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says the Kingdom will take delivery of 200,000 vaccine doses this month, with a further 800,000 arriving next month, and 1 million in April. Health officials say Thailand will have vaccinated 50% of its population by the end of the year.
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Second batch of China’s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine to arrive in Thailand on March 25
A second order of China’s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines are expected to arrive on March 25, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced today. 800,000 doses are set to be sent to Thailand later this month.
Along with informing the Thai government on the expected arrival date for the vaccines, Chinese officials also asked that the Thai government consider vaccinating Chinese nationals who are living in Thailand and establishing of a China Immunisation Centre for Overseas Chinese. Nation Thailand reports “Thailand will continue to seek support for the vaccine from China as a friend.”
There’s also talk of a travel bubble between the 2 countries for those who are vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The first batch of 200,000 doses arrived last month along with another shipment of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Altogether, the Thai government ordered 2 million doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine.
SOURCE: Nation Thailand
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Travellers undergoing yacht quarantine to wear wristbands to track location and monitor health
Foreign tourists travelling to Thailand by yacht and undergoing the mandatory quarantine period onboard the vessel will be asked to wear a smart wristband to monitor their health and track their location. The Digital Economy Promotion Agency teamed up with Advanced Info Service, known as AIS, and Phuket tourism operators to launch the so-called “Digital Yacht Quarantine” programme.
Apparently, tourist disappearances aren’t that uncommon and the digital tracking wristbands will help make sure tourists are safe. Here’s what the Bangkok Post wrote:
The use of the wristband also ensures the safety of tourists as about two tourists disappear from Phuket each month while travelling and it costs 4-5 million baht to search for each person.
Along with tracking location, the smart wristbands also monitor pulse, blood pressure and body temperature. If there is an emergency, an alert will be sent to authorities.
The yacht quarantine is expected to bring in 1.8 billion baht in tourism revenue, according to the Bangkok Post. About 100 yachts set to dock in Thailand with around 300 to 500 tourists are expected to undergo the onboard quarantine.
Since restrictions were imposed last year on international travel, tourism officials have been brainstorming ways to bring in foreign travellers safely, without risking the spread of the coronavirus, to help revive tourism dependent areas. Last year, Phuket lost 320 billion baht in revenue and the number of tourists on the island dropped from 40,000 to 50,000 visitors per day to just hundreds, according to the Post.
The agency’s president and chief executive Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin says the island province is a “magnet” tourist attraction.
“Tourism is a key sector where technology can be used to address the problem and boost travel.”
SOURCE: Bangkok Post
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Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Thailand to issue vaccine certificate to everyone who gets 2 doses of Covid jab
Thailand’s Public Health Minister says everyone who receives both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine will be issued with a vaccine certificate. The vaccine certificate will be similar to the vaccination books already in circulation for some time and used to prove inoculation against yellow fever. According to a Coconuts report, both the paper and online version of the certificate will cost 50 baht and will be available from hospitals administering the vaccines.
While there is currently no standard vaccine passport, with most countries waiting for World Health Organisation guidance on the matter, it’s hoped Thailand’s vaccine certificate could help citizens with international travel plans. Anutin says recipients can use them for international travel and the certificates will have a validity of 1 year.
The government is also considering a reduction in mandatory quarantine for vaccinated foreigners entering the Kingdom. A proposal going before the government’s Covid-19 task force on Monday includes cutting quarantine to 7 days for vaccinated visitors or reducing it to 10 days for unvaccinated arrivals who have tested negative 72 hours prior to travel. It’s understood the 7 day quarantine would apply to travellers who have been vaccinated for at least 2 weeks, but no longer than 3 months.
The proposals come as vaccine rollouts continue around the world, although Anutin points out that travellers from South Africa will not be eligible for reduced quarantine, due to the highly-contagious variant detected there, which health officials fear may be more resistant to vaccines.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister has even hinted at quarantine being cancelled completely if Thailand manages to inoculate 70% of people with underlying conditions and those working in the health and tourism sectors by October. Vaccine registration is set to kick-off in May, with the full national rollout beginning in June, when additional doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are expected to arrive.
SOURCE: Coconuts
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Roger C
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 10:22 am
“Thailand had devised a carefully planned vaccination programme”
Yes. Hiso’s first.
Joe
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 1:11 pm
The first doses of the vaccination should roll out this month according to Anutin,yes but he doesn’t mention that this is a small number of Chinese ones and that the astra Zeneca one, the one made in Thailand, won’t be here until June, that is if they manage to produce it by then. And then Phuket is not allowed to procure any vaccines on it’s own. It looks like the country is being held hostage by certain people. According to the Bangkok Post the damage is 250 billion baht per month in lost economic activity.
Toby Andrews
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 3:15 pm
Well in that case, as Thailand has a net worth of $1160 billion, Thailand should be broke in 185.6 months.
Pity, I thought it would be quicker than that.
Fred glue
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 10:37 am
That is clear as crystal. ??????
Ben
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 10:40 am
Money talks…
Rip255
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 11:17 am
So can I just buy a vaccine? We all know it wont be based on need so might as well sign up for it now instead of being at the back of the queue
Changyue
Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 11:30 am
Any idea how?
James
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 11:51 am
ZIMBABWE IS GETTING VACCINES. Z I M B A B W E. No private vaccines except for the elite of course. I bet the Health Minister has been vaccinated.
Issan John
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 12:38 pm
I can’t understand why “when a second wave occurred, it was necessary to adjust the plan” – particularly to delay it.
That looks a bit like trying to shift the blame from a “plan” that was flawed, however “carefully planned”, to put the blame on “the result of violations of laws – illegal entry and gambling” which can’t have had any affect on the vaccination roll out and plan at all. 😮
Jack Sombra
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 4:23 pm
They are trying to pass the blame everywhere but themselves. Their other excuse is EU vaccince ‘export ban’, you know the one that does not really ban anything, especially existing contracts.
Simple fact is Anutin screwed up by putting all his eggs in the local production basket and now they have to protect the reputation of a certain individual who they wanted to present as the ‘saviour of Thailand’, but the company he owns has so far totally failed to deliver. Probably not even his fault, but rather that of companys management and Thai tendency to not tell those above them the truth about impossible/unworkable plans.
Issan John
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 5:23 pm
Now that Thanathorn’s open questioning of Siam Bioscience has been “un-banned”, I have a feeling things may become a lot clearer and that things could change – particularly as J & J applied a week ago to register their vaccine, which could be a real game changer (cost, supply, etc).
Alavan
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 11:28 pm
And they didn’t sign COVAX.
Joe
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 1:12 pm
The first doses of the vaccination should roll out this month according to Anutin,yes but he doesn’t mention that this is a small number of Chinese ones and that the astra Zeneca one, the one made in Thailand, won’t be here until June, that is if they manage to produce it by then. And then Phuket is not allowed to procure any vaccines on it’s own. It looks like the country is being held hostage by certain people. According to the Bangkok Post the damage is 250 billion baht per month in lost economic activity.
Ynwaps
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 2:14 pm
It’s funny because he looks artistic already
Toby Andrews
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 3:27 pm
If this Health Minister, Anukin, was Japanese, he would be obliged to cut off a finger for this dishonorable abject failure!
But alas, he is not Japanese.
Alavan
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 5:54 pm
He wouldn’t have any fingers left by now.
Joe
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 6:16 pm
You mean autistic.
Ynwaps
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 6:26 pm
calling him autistic would be rude to the people on the spectrum.
He’s a different kind of artist lol
G
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 4:57 pm
Shifting blame for a slow roll out…
“The private sector and local administrations are not authorised to purchase vaccines” which would make the minister / gov look bad…
Siam Bioscience is at a snails pace (if and when) it succeeds at all. Lockdown is easy Mr Anutin, vaccine is not!
Issan John
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 5:50 pm
The Thai Examiner had a different take on the significance of the “deal to produce the AstraZeneca vaccine locally” last week (5 Feb):
“On Wednesday, the Minister of Public Health, Mr Anutin, had a slightly different outlook when he pointed out to reporters that Thailand’s contract was not with Siam Bioscience but with AstraZeneca for delivery of vaccine doses.
‘We have signed a contract with AstraZeneca for at least 61 million doses, not with Siam Bioscience. If Siam Bioscience’s plant can’t produce the vaccine, it means nothing to us. This is because the purchase agreement clearly stated that AstraZeneca will provide the vaccine, not Siam Bioscience,’ he revealed.”
London Al
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 7:16 pm
Ms Ursula von der Layen (EU commission leader) said yesterday ““We were late to authorise, we were too optimistic when it came to massive production, and perhaps too confident that what we ordered would actually be delivered on time. We need to ask ourselves why that is the case.”
I call that honesty and it’s a shame a lot of the world’s politicians prefer to blame everyone but themselves.
Shane
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 8:08 pm
When has a politician ever admitted they’re wrong? They may have made an error of judgement, or mis-spoke, but they’re never wrong. To be honest, they should all be eligible to become Pope, as they claim to be infallible.
Ben
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 8:30 pm
The best plan would have been to secure a variety of vaccines. With different variants emerging it’s being reported that some vaccines may be less effective against some of the variants.
It’s difficult because every country in the world is scrambling to secure vaccine supply and those that put in their orders early or helped fund development and manufacturing capability, like the USA, are going to be first in line. It would have been difficult for Thailand to play in that arena.
So they’ve apparently now secured some supply from China and have an Astra Zeneca deal. Is that enough? Probably need to look at doing a deal with a company like Moderna that’s now formulating boosters that account for variants. It’s going to cost money but it’s all a drop in the bucket compared to losing 20% of your GDP.
Joe
Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 9:12 am
Thailand has been offered vaccinations from Johnson and Johnson and from India but all were refused. Cambodia started it’s inoculations yesterday.
Issan John
Thursday, February 11, 2021 at 10:14 am
Quite. Turning down vaccines (and India’s offering a selection, cheaper than anyone) is pretty hard to explain or understand when everyone else is fighting for them.
Jim kelly
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 9:43 pm
Anutin: “Dirty, filthy man!!” Don’t listen to this cretin. He knows how to fire a gun I expect, and that’s about it.
Leo Z
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 10:04 pm
The only question actually is “why is this guy still Health Minister?”.
Jim kelly
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 10:13 pm
Because he’s a mate of you know who!! Dirty, rotten apples the lot of them… THAILAND WILL FAIL AND “FALL”… it’s inevitable with these clowns running the ‘circus!’
Jim kelly
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 10:17 pm
Along with the elderly ‘dwarf’ who borrows ‘watches’ to make himself look more sophisticated.