The United States is ready to help Thailand procure Covid-19 vaccines, US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said during a meeting with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House in Bangkok on Wednesday.
Prayut congratulated Sherman on taking up her post, and US President Joe Biden for his victory in the election, expressing hope that the US and Thailand would continue building stronger friendship and cooperation, according to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri.
Sherman also praised friendship between the two countries that has lasted for over 188 years, Anucha said.
“She said the US has a policy to help many countries, including Thailand, in seeking Covid-19 vaccines in a bid to enable them to overcome the crisis.”
He added that Prayut appreciated the US offer and was willing to commence operations under the vaccine import process.
Anucha said Sherman and Prayut also talked about the climate, bio-circular-green (BCG) economy, human trafficking and the situation in Myanmar.
AstraZeneca announces first lot of Covid jabs ready for rollout
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca officially launched its supply chain in Thailand on Wednesday, saying the first lot of locally produced Covid-19 vaccines was ready to be rolled out.
The supply chain was established in partnership with Siam Bioscience, a Thai manufacturer specialising in biopharmaceutical medicines, to support broad and equitable access to the vaccine in Southeast Asia.
AstraZeneca will deliver the first locally produced vaccine doses to the Thai Public Health Ministry, so it can kick off the mass vaccine rollout. Distribution to other Southeast Asian countries will commence in the coming weeks.
“This is a major milestone in the battle against Covid-19.
Ramping up the production of our vaccine in Thailand in only a few months is a tremendous achievement, thanks to the outstanding collaboration with our manufacturing partner, Siam Bioscience,” said James Teague, president of AstraZeneca (Thailand).
“Now that we are ready to deliver high-quality vaccine produced locally, we can help the Thai government achieve its goal of ensuring the effective vaccination of people in Thailand as quickly as possible.”
The first doses of the locally produced AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine have won the stamp for quality and safety by both local regulators and international testing laboratories, allowing their release this week. Each batch of the vaccine undergoes more than 60 different quality assurance control tests and review processes.
AstraZeneca has established a global supply network, with 16 supply chains and 25 manufacturing partners in more than 15 countries.
Siam Bioscience is the only manufacturing site of AstraZeneca’s vaccine in Southeast Asia and will play a critical role in the supply to other Southeast Asian countries. The vaccine will be ready for export in July.
AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine is well-tolerated and highly effective against all disease severities across all adults in clinical trials. Emerging real-world evidence from tens of millions of people also shows that the vaccine reduces severe disease and hospital admissions by more than 80 per cent after the first dose.
AstraZeneca has committed to supply its Covid-19 vaccine globally without profit during the pandemic.
To date, the company has supplied over 500 million doses to 168 countries.
Police nab alleged assaulter of Canadian live streamer
Bangkok police finally tracked down and nabbed a homeless man in the early hours of Wednesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a Canadian woman on Thursday.
The woman was doing a live stream near Bangkok’s Lumpini Park when the man apparently touched her inappropriately. The incident was also recorded on CCTV.
The suspect – 31-year-old Jedsada Phopong – was arrested near the park.
Police say the suspect did not provide any clear answers during interrogation and the woman has been summoned to identify the man. There were no updates on the case as of press time.
38 deaths, 3,440 new infections as Thailand’s third wave rages on
Thailand logged 3,440 Covid-19 cases, including 1,087 inmates and 15 returnees, and 38 deaths on Wednesday.
Bangkok again leads the list with 680 infections, followed by 466 in Samut Prakan, 449 in Phetchaburi and 176 in Trang.
The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration provided no details on the returnees.
Meanwhile, 2,843 patients have recovered and been discharged in the last 24 hours.
As of Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases in Thailand had risen to 165,462. So far, 114,578 have recovered and been discharged, 49,777 patients are still in hospitals and 1,107 have died.
Separately, 51,881 people were given their first Covid-19 shot in the last 24 hours, while 36,978 people were given their second shot, bringing the total number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in Thailand to 3,753,178.
According to Worldometer, as of 11am on Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases globally had risen to 171.92 million (up by 447,201), 154.4 million of whom have recovered, 13.95 million are active cases (90,672 in severe condition) and 3.57 million have died (up by 10,344).
Thailand ranks 82nd on the global list of most cases, which is topped by the US with 34.13 million, followed by India 28.30 million, Brazil 16.62 million, France 5.67 million and Turkey 5.25 million.
AstraZeneca confirms it will deliver 6m locally made doses in June
AstraZeneca (Thailand) has confirmed that it will deliver 6 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine during June after submitting documentation to the Department of Medical Sciences for vaccine quality inspection, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Tuesday.
“Locally made AstraZeneca vaccines will be available at vaccination units from June 7 as per the original schedule,” he said. “The company will start delivering the vaccine in lots and will achieve the target of six million doses within this month.”
Meanwhile, the Department of Disease Control said the first lot of 240,000 AstraZeneca doses will be sent to 58 provinces, or around 3,600 doses each, by today, June 2.
“The next lot of 350,000 doses will be sent to the other 19 provinces in the next two weeks,” the department added.
The 19 provinces are Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Saraburi, Singburi, Ang Thong, Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Phetchaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkram, Samut Sakhon, Chachoengsao, Chonburi, Prachinburi, Rayong and Samut Prakan.
Another 200,000 doses of the Sinovac vaccine will also be distributed to vaccination units nationwide in June.
150 people compensated so far for Covid-19 vaccine reactions
The National Health Security Office (NHSO) has so far paid out almost THB1 million to 150 people who suffered from adverse reactions after receiving Covid-19 vaccinations, the office’s secretary-general Dr Jadet Thammathat-Aree said on Tuesday.
Of the 150 patients, 131 had minor reactions, 15 suffered from moderate reactions and four were hospitalised after being inoculated. Their combined compensation is THB991,700.
“Affected recipients or family members can file a case at public hospitals, provincial public health offices or NHSO branch offices nationwide. Each case will take up to five days for consideration,” he said.
The criteria for compensation are as follows:
– A maximum THB400,000 in case of death or total disability
– Maximum THB240,000 in case of losing an organ or disability
– Maximum THB100,000 in case of continuous injury or sickness.
“This compensation is considered preliminary aid during an emergency situation. Patients or family members can file a case immediately without any autopsy or medical investigation results,” Jadet said.
“Once the compensation is paid it will not be recalled, even if a later investigation reveals that the death/injuries were not directly related to the vaccine.”
Jadet added that the compensation is only applicable to vaccines that have been procured by the government and excludes alternative vaccines imported by private hospitals.
Court issues arrest warrant for Nong Chompoo’s uncle over toddler’s death
The Mukdahan provincial court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for Chaipol Wipa, the uncle of 3-year-old Nong Chompoo, over her death.
The child had gone missing from her home in a village near Phu Phao Yon in the province on May 10 last year, and her naked body was found on May 14 in a forest about 2 kilometres away.
Just a month after the incident, Chaipol “Uncle Pol” Wipa, a key suspect in the case, became an internet sensation after a news agency portrayed the toddler’s uncle as a misunderstood, innocent man. He not only went on to win support from people across the country but also received job offers from the entertainment industry.
The warrant listed three charges against Chaipol – taking a minor under 15 from her parents, abandoning a child aged under nine, which resulted in her death, and altering the body or crime scene before an autopsy was completed.
A news source reported that officers found three strands of hair at the scene. A DNA test confirmed they belonged to Chaipol.
National Police Chief Pol General Suwat Chaengyodsuk will hold a press conference later on Wednesday.
Hot day forecast for most of Thailand with isolated rains
The weak southwest monsoon prevails over the country, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, resulting in isolated rains and a hot day across much of the nation, the Meteorological Department said on Wednesday, adding that weak wind and waves are forecast for both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf.
It also said tropical storm Choi-wan, due east of the Philippines, is expected to move northward to the northern Philippines but will have no effect on Thailand.
Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:
Bangkok and surrounding areas: Hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 26-28 degrees, highs of 34-39 degrees Celsius.
North: Hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-27 degrees and highs of 36-39 degrees Celsius.
Northeast: Hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 25-28 degrees and highs of 37-39 degrees Celsius.
Central: Hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 25-27 degrees, highs of 33-38 degrees Celsius.
East: Hot day with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 25-27 degrees, highs of 33-38 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (east coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 24-26 degrees, highs of 34-37 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
South (west coast): Mostly cloudy with thundershowers in 30 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-26 degrees, highs of 34-36 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved in principle new speed limits for Thai roads, citing the need to upgrade traffic conditions to international standards.
In Bangkok, Pattaya City, or community areas the new limits are:
– 60 kilometres per hour for trucks weighing up to 2.2 tonnes, buses with more than 15 passengers, school buses and motorcycles.
– 45kph for vehicles in tow and small four- or three-wheel vehicles.
Outside of Bangkok, Pattaya city and community areas:
– 80kph for trucks up to up to 2,200kg, buses with more than 15 passengers.
– 70kph for school buses and motorcycles.
– 55kph for vehicles being towed, and for small four- or three-wheel vehicles.
On roads of at least two lanes in the same direction with divider, the limits are:
– 80kph for trucks weighing over 2,200kg and buses with more than 15 passengers.
– 80kph for school buses and motorcycles.
65kph for cars in tow and small four- or three-wheel vehicles.
On expressways:
– 90kph for trucks over 2,200kg, buses with more than 15 passengers, and school buses. The speed limit drops to 80kph on flyovers and in tunnels.
– 65kph for vehicles in tow.
The new speed limits will now be sent to the Council of State for legal checks.
GLO gambles on PaoTang app to prevent lottery overpricing
The Government Lottery Office (GLO) will open a new online channel for sale of lottery tickets next month in a bid to combat overpricing.
Lottery tickets are often sold for higher than the advertised price of 80 baht, GLO director Pol Col Boonsong Chantreesri noted.
To help solve the problem, the GLO Official Sellers pilot project will launch on July 1 via the PaoTang mobile wallet app, where the ticket price will be fixed at 80 baht.
The project will cover one seller in each of Bangkok’s 50 districts and six districts in Nonthaburi.
Each will be allocated an extra 20 sets of lottery tickets under the project, on top of the 25 sets they already sell.
