Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Thai PM says government plans to buy a further 35 million vaccine doses

Published

6 months ago

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Maya Taylor

PHOTO: Hakan Nural on Unsplash

Thailand hopes to buy an additional 35 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, giving the country a total supply of 63 million doses, according to PM Prayut Chan-o-cha. He has not confirmed where the additional supply will come from, but according to a Bangkok Post report, he says the government will ensure the vaccines meet Food and Drug Administration criteria. He adds that the Disease Control Department and National Vaccine Institute will work with the FDA in this regard.

The country will take delivery of 2 million doses of China’s Sinovac Biotech vaccine within the next 3 months. The first shipment will contain 200,000 doses and is expected by the end of February. The next shipment of 800,000 doses will arrive by the end of March, followed by the final shipment of 1 million doses by the end of April. It’s understood healthcare workers and village health volunteers will be first in line for vaccination.

In addition, Thailand has agreed to purchase 26 million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca, in partnership with the UK’s Oxford University. The Kingdom has also signed a technology-transfer agreement that will give manufacturing rights for that vaccine to the Thai firm, Siam Bioscience.

While efforts to procure vaccines continue, the PM says he is reluctant to impose fresh lockdowns, given the severe economic impact. He says the government continues to monitor the situation and is calling on everyone to cooperate with disease prevention measures.

“We don’t want to lock down the entire country because we know what the problems are, so can you all lock down yourselves? This is up to everyone, if you don’t want to get infected just stay home for 14 to 15 days. If you think like this, then things will be safe, easier for screening.”

Meanwhile, there were 745 new cases recorded in the Kingdom yesterday, of which 729 were local infections. 65 people have now died, with the latest death being reported in a 56 year old Bangkok man yesterday. According to Taweesilp Visanuyothin from the government’s Covid-19 task force, the man died on Sunday, 2 days after being diagnosed with the virus. It’s understood he had several underlying conditions.

Cases continue to rise in the central province of Samut Sakhon, where the Covid-19 resurgence first took hold. On Sunday, the province reported 541 new cases, which are included in the number above. Yesterday, it recorded an additional 470 infections, which have not yet been included in the national tally. Of the 470 new cases, 439 were confirmed after contact tracing. 49 are Thai nationals and 390 are migrant workers. The remaining cases are in 25 Thais and 6 migrant workers.

Along with Samut Sakhon, there are strict lockdowns in place in the eastern provinces of Chon Buri, Rayong, Trat and Chanthaburi, with checkpoints set up to prevent people leaving unless absolutely necessary. The chief of police in Chanthaburi, Suvicharn Yankittikul, has been transferred, as officials investigate claims that police officers turned a blind eye to illegal gambling dens.

Meanwhile, the total number of affected provinces now stands at 54, with the western province of Prachuap Khiri Khan recording its first case, in Hua Hin. Taweesilp says he fears the numbers will continue to rise nationwide, due to people travelling over the recent New Year holiday.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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17 Comments

Alte Ledertasche

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 10:00 am

I have to concratulate the PM…yes its up to everybody him/herself..if you not want get infected and are scared of the virus stay at home. If not continue with your life.

Reply
- David Beckman
  
  Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 10:48 am
  
  Alte this is stupid, if i self isolate to not get the virus for 14 days but the government allows others to go on as normal then after them 14 days I can still not go out because others have been freely wandering around spreading covid with no lockdown so therefore I could actually really have to stay locked down many more months to prevent being infected ,you cant expect some in the community to lockdown 14 days and others not ,this achieves absolutely nothing except them who lock down are safe for 14 days only to be infected after if they leave self isolation ,ridiculous suggestion
  
  Reply
  - Alte Ledertasche
    
    Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 11:28 am
    
    So you are afraid of covid. I am not. Thats why I proceed with my life. You stay at home.
    
    Reply
    - Michael
      
      Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 11:36 am
      
      And that is exactly why they have to summarily execute people who do not follow the guidelines.
      
      Reply
      - Alte Ledertasche
        
        Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 11:47 am
        
        Give it a try stupid sheep.
    - David Beckman
      
      Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 5:17 pm
      
      Common sense isn’t fear mate.
      
      Reply
      - Alte Ledertasche
        
        Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 6:38 pm
        
        What kind of common sense you are talking about. I am not at risk to die from Covid and if so than let it be.
        
        The risk of dying from Covid is considerable lower than the chance of getting killed in Thai road traffic. Cancer kills 9.5 million people every year. So what.
  - Marco
    
    Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 12:59 pm
    
    fully agree. Tired of this non sens. Then what after this one, we gonna do the same for the flu, and the another one. There is no end to this madness.
    
    Reply
Toby Andrews

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 10:22 am

They are signing an agreement to manufacture the UK vaccine. Well that’s a change they have always just stolen Western technology and inventions.
I would deny them the vaccines, the way they have denied westerners for the last six months.

Reply
- Fred glue
  
  Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 12:15 pm
  
  Good lord Toby, the chemist not open 2day. ??
  
  Reply
v

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 1:26 pm

china has not published any stage 3 trial data, not approved by any country’s FDA, but PM is willing to take 2 mil doses. more chinese dumping of cheap products. Like other Chinese products, will stop working after 30 days.

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 11:45 pm
  
  Let’s hope it’s only “2 mil doses” – it could be “a further 35 million vaccine doses”, as the source for those is anything but clear.
  
  Reply
Gary Harper

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 1:54 pm

Whoever brokered that transfer of technology from the UK to the land of smiles is to be commended. It appears that Siam bioscience is going to get a free lunch on this one. I think I’m going to go check what foreign stocks I can purchase through an agent the United States that I have, because a relatively zero risk technology startup will do nothing but make money.

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 11:57 pm
  
  I doubt your US “agent” will have much success buying any stock in Siam Bioscience.
  
  Siam Bioscience is 100% owned by CPB Equity. CPB is the Crown Property Bureau.
  
  Reply
James R

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 11:25 pm

Good luck with the Chinese vaccine, time for farangs to leave if they are forced to take it.

They have not purchased the Oxford vaccine, but they may have placed an order and will have to wait in line for that order to be made in the coming months.

We (UK) will get the first 100 million doses of our vaccine which we ordered months ago.

But will Thailand want to use our ‘dirty farang’ vaccine?

Reply
Issan John

Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 11:41 pm

Are you aware of the day of the week? If there’s an ‘R’ in the month?

I only ask because you’re all too evidently completely unaware of Thailand’s agreements with Astra Zeneca and purchases from them.

Reply
TS

Wednesday, January 6, 2021 at 10:19 am

So after all the thai elites get their US made vaccine, about what month in 2022 will the Thai commoners get their chinese jab?

Reply

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.

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