Thailand intensifies talks with EU for quick purchase of AstraZeneca vaccine
The Public Health Ministry has stepped up negotiations with British vaccine company AstraZeneca to import the first lot of its anti-Covid-19 vaccines this month and is also asking the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider importing and registering China’s Sinovac vaccine faster.
Ministry permanent secretary Dr Kiattaphum Wongrajit said on Wednesday that Thailand aimed to procure the first lot of 50,000 AstraZeneca vaccines by February 14 despite the European Union limiting exports amid delivery disputes and a shortage of doses.
He said there was an agreement before the problem arose but now the Thai government is providing information to the EU for the purchase of the vaccines.
The ministry expects the EU to consider Thailand’s case and allow the first lot of vaccines to be exported upon agreement, before the kingdom goes in for bulk vaccine imports in June.
In addition, the FDA is now studying laws for the “emergency” import of Sinovac, manufactured by the Biotech company. Thailand expects to import this vaccine too this month.
