TUESDAY, March 19, 2024
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Thanathorn demands govt unveil vaccine manufacturing contract

Thanathorn demands govt unveil vaccine manufacturing contract

Progressive Movement leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday that the government’s reaction to his statement on Monday on Covid-19 vaccine transparency only increased his doubt that a royally owned pharmaceutical company had received special treatment in the country’s vaccination plans.

On Monday, Thanathorn went on Facebook Live to slam the government for its tardiness in providing Covid-19 vaccines and also claimed the company – Siam Bioscience – tasked with manufacturing the vaccine locally, is owned by the Monarch, leading to the Digital Economy and Society Ministry filing lese-majeste charges on Wednesday afternoon.

He wrote: “I demand that the government unveil vaccine manufacturing and related contracts to prove there is transparency in the selection process, as follows:

"1. The manufacturing contract between AstraZeneca and Siam Bioscince, that states the number of doses, manufacturing cost, selling price and other related details.

"2. The budget contract between the National Vaccine Institute and Siam Bioscince, that states the total budget for vaccine manufacturing, detailed usage and other conditions.

"3. Minutes of the National Vaccine Institute’s meetings that are related to the setting of conditions, qualifications and details of companies to be funded by the government to manufacture the vaccine.

“I totally agree with the government or private sector receiving technology to manufacture the vaccine,” Thanathorn said. “However, I only doubt the transparency in the selection process of the manufacturer, as well as the government’s administration of the vaccine plan that seems to lack risk diversification, which will only result in Thai people receiving the vaccine late and with smaller coverage than other countries,” he added.

Related Story: Thanathorn in trouble for speaking up about royal link with Covid-19 vaccine plan

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