By Orathai Sriring and Panarat Thepgumpanat
BANGKOK (Reuters) – The Thai government on Sunday defended its decision not to join the WHO-sponsored coronavirus vaccination program, saying it would risk the country paying more for the shots and uncertainty over delivery times in the facing.
The government has been criticized by opposition politicians and protesters for lacking transparency and being too slow to obtain vaccines. While the country with 66 million people had a low number of cases and deaths, it has a second wave of infections to deal with.
Frontline health workers will receive 2 million imported Chinese Sinovac shots within a month, but mass vaccinations for the general population will only begin before local AstraZeneca doses are ready in June.
Government spokeswoman Anucha Buraphachaisri said in response to media reports that Thailand was the only country in Southeast Asia to skip the WTO’s COVAX scheme, saying that Thailand was not eligible as a middle-income country. do not come for free or cheap vaccines under the program.
“Buying vaccines directly from the manufacturers is an appropriate choice … because they are more flexible,” said Anucha.
“If Thailand wants to join the COVAX program, it will have to pay for the vaccines itself with a high budget, and there is a risk, too,” he said. dates. He did not specify the cost.
A total of 190 countries and they have joined COVAX, which aims to ensure equitable access to vaccines during the pandemic. The scheme is jointly managed by the GAVI Alliance, the WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and UNICEF.
Thailand has so far not received or manufactured any vaccines, even though many of its neighbors have started vaccinations.
Thailand on Sunday reported 166 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number of infections to 24,571, with a death toll of 80.
(Reporting by Orathai Sriring and Panarat Thepgumpanat; editing by Kay Johnson and Frances Kerry)