Thailand in talks to procure 120 million Covid-19 vaccine doses for 2022

The government aims to procure 120 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines next year, with a particular focus on booster shots and children between 3 and 11, who are not yet vaccinated. Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says 60 million doses will be the AstraZeneca vaccine, between 30 and 50 million will be from Pfizer, and the remainder will be from other manufacturers.

According to a Thai PBS World report, the AstraZeneca doses will arrive in 3 deliveries. 15 million will arrive in the first quarter of 2022, 30 million in quarter 2, and another 15 million in the third quarter. Meanwhile, 7.5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected in the first quarter of the year, another 7.5 million in quarter 2, and 17.5 million each in quarters 3 and 4.

The CCSA spokesman says Spain has offered to sell Thailand 165,000 AstraZeneca doses at a cost of €2.90 per dose. It has also offered to sell 2,788,110 Pfizer doses at a cost of €15.50 each. Meanwhile, Hungary has offered to sell 400,000 AstraZeneca doses for €1.78 each. However, Taweesin says there are additional expenses involved in the procurement of vaccines beyond the price of each dose. These include packaging and storage costs, freight, customs duties, taxes, and insurance charges.

According to Taweesin, 70% of the country will have received a first vaccine dose by November, rising to 80% by December. He believes 70% of the population will be fully vaccinated during December. Meanwhile, between 1 and 2 million vaccine doses will be given as booster shots to fully vaccinated people between October and December.

SOURCE: Thai PBS World