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Thailand negotiating to buy 5-10 million doses of Pfizer vaccine: PM


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Thailand seeks five-ten million doses of Pfizer vaccines

 

2021-04-20T095954Z_1_LYNXMPEH3J0J4_RTROPTP_4_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-THAILAND.JPG

FILE PHOTO: People queue to be tested for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as the country deals with a fresh wave of infections after tackling earlier outbreaks, in Bangkok, Thailand April 16, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is seeking between five and 10 million doses of Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine, its prime minister said on Tuesday, as the government seeks to shore-up supplies while battling its fastest-spreading outbreak so far.

 

Thailand has been credited for its swift containment of its earlier infection waves, but has yet to start mass COVID-19 vaccinations, with just under 572,000 people inoculated with first doses so far.

 

"We're still waiting for quotations and terms and conditions," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters, adding the targeted delivery period for the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccines was July to year-end.

 

His government has been criticised for its slow procurement of vaccines and over-reliance on that of AstraZeneca, which Thailand expects to be available from June.

 

Authorities on Tuesday assured the public there were sufficient hospital beds for the rising number of coronavirus patients, amid a third wave of infections that has reached all 77 of its provinces.

 

Thailand's policy of hospitalising all who test positive for COVID-19, even without symptoms, has prompted concern about its capacity should the number of patients with severe symptoms surge.

 

"We can guarantee you a bed within 24-48 hours," Somsak Akksilp, Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, told reporters.

 

He said asymptomatic patients and some with mild symptoms would be moved to field hospitals, or "hospitels" - hotels converted into care facilities.

 

Authorities have also drawn up an alternative plan to allow patients with less serious symptoms to self-isolate at home if new daily infections surpass 10,000 and hospitals cannot cope.

 

There are currently more than 9,000 Thai hospital beds available, up from 7,000 last week, officials said. The government has asked hospitals to double or increase by 50% their intensive care capacity.

 

Authorities on Tuesday reported 1,443 new cases and four new deaths, bringing total infections to 45,185 with 108 fatalities. A third of Thailand's cases have come this month, with record infections on most days last week.

 

The current wave includes the highly transmissible B.1.1.7 variant, which is blamed for big jumps in infections in many countries, including nearby in the Philippines, where hospitals are struggling.

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-04-20
 
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1 hour ago, Patong2021 said:

Thailand is not in a position to negotiate and Pfizer is not making  "bid".  Thailand must go and pay whatever the cost is. No discussion.  Other countries are in line and willing to pay the Pfizer price. The arrogance of the Thai government is astounding. Delusional to think that a company with a product in high demand is going to bid or negotiate on a small order of vaccine. Thailand  needs Pfizer vaccine. Pfizer does not need Thailand. The people who have the financial means will go to other country to get vaccine access.

Everything is always subject to negotiation, Thailand might , I emphasize, Might not have a strong negotiating  position, but it does have one. 

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18 minutes ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

555, I don't believe one word this man says, its all propaganda to keep the population quite, and make them think the government is doing something, 

They have been negotiating deals with vaccine manufacturers for a year now, according to them, and yet we get a dribble of deliveries, and the proof is that only 1% of the population has been vacciated todate, this Government is pathetic, and either hasn't got the money to purchase vaccine or doesn't want to spend the money on the population... 

Many 1st world countries are having problems getting sufficient vaccine as well.  They can only make so much.  Supply and demand.  Production is slowly ramping up so it will get better over time. 

 

Pfizer seems to really be ramping up their production now.  Not sure what the heck is going on with AstraZeneca and Moderna.  They seem to be flailing.  Both are new to vaccine production on a large scale and it shows.  However, J&J also seems to be flailing. They have a long history of large scale vaccine production so they have no excuse.  Some other large manufacturers are jumping in to help out like GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi so that should help on the production end of things over the next few months.

Edited by shdmn
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Pfizer/BioNTech now think they can make 2.5 Billion doses this year, up from 2 billion.  A new plant came on-line in Germany. 

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New capital investments at Moderna’s manufacturing facilities expected to increase 2022 capacity to approximately 1.4 billion doses at the 100 μg dose

Moderna also increases its 2021 base plan to 700 million doses and is working to supply up to 1 billion doses in 2021

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J&J/Janssen is floundering a bit recently.  It sounds like Merck & Co. is going to help out.

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4 hours ago, Soikhaonoiken said:

555, I don't believe one word this man says, its all propaganda to keep the population quite, and make them think the government is doing something, 

They have been negotiating deals with vaccine manufacturers for a year now, according to them, and yet we get a dribble of deliveries, and the proof is that only 1% of the population has been vacciated todate, this Government is pathetic, and either hasn't got the money to purchase vaccine or doesn't want to spend the money on the population... 

Yeah. Come to think of it, didn't Thailand have a big order with AstraZeneca that was delayed by the export embargo in the EU? If so, that should be coming eventually, or was that order just a dream? 

Edited by mbenson
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