Thailand Allows Private Hospitals, Local Administration Authorities To Procure Covid-19 Vaccines

BANGKOK, June 9 (Bernama) -- To further accelerate its vaccination campaign, Thailand now allows private hospitals and local administration authorities to procure COVID-19 vaccines through designated agencies. Ministry of Foreign Affairs' deputy spokesman Natapanu Nopakun said the agencies designated by the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) include the National Vaccine Institute, Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) and the Thai Red Cross Society. “Thailand's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been instructed to facilitate vaccine registration request from manufacturers to ensure smooth and effective process of procurement. “All government and private agencies have been requested to synchronize information to ensure systematic procurement and information gathering,” he said during COVID-19 daily briefing here today. On Monday, Thailand kicked off its long-awaited mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19, with the aim of vaccinating 70 per cent of its nearly 70 million population by the year end to achieve herd immunity. However, there have been concerns on insufficient vaccine supplies in the kingdom. Since its vaccination drive on February 28, a total of 5.1 million people have received at least one dose of vaccine. Meanwhile, Bangkok Post reported secretary-general of the National Security Council Gen Natthapon Nakpanich saying the procurement has to be conducted through designated agencies because vaccine manufacturers would only make one vaccine supply contract in each country. Natthapon who is the operations director of CCSA said the deliveries of more vaccine doses have yet to be scheduled. Over the last 24 hours, Thailand recorded 2,680 new COVID-19 cases including 280 prisoners, and 35 fatalities, bringing the total infections in the kingdom to 185,228 and 1,332 deaths to date. Of the new cases, a total 2,669 were local transmission and 11 imported cases, including three arrivals from Malaysia. -- BERNAMA