The Thai cabinet today (Tuesday) approved the procurement of an additional 30 million doses of Pfizer’s mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, from Pfizer, by Thailand’s Diseases Control Department.
Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said that the cabinet also authorised the Disease Control Department to sign the third amendment to the Manufacturing and Supply Agreement with Pfizer for vaccine procurement.
He said that the agreement will enable the Disease Control Department to receive the new generation of Pfizer vaccine for children, adding that the 30 million doses of mRNA vaccine are to be delivered to Thailand in lots during the first, second and third quarters of next year.
With the additional doses, Thailand will have procured a total of 60 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, said Thanakorn.
At Government House today, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha formally received one million doses of the Moderna mRNA vaccine, donated by the United States, which arrived in Thailand yesterday.
US Chargé d’affaires, Michael Heath, celebrated the arrival of the vaccine with the prime minister, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and other senior Thai officials at Government House.
On Monday, Heath said the new shipment reaffirms US support of Thailand and determination to stand shoulder-to-shoulder to overcome the global pandemic.
The million doses of Moderna vaccine is the second batch of mRNA vaccine, after 1.5 million Pfizer doses were delivered in July.
Heath added that the US government has provided tens of million dollars in COVID-19 related assistance to Thailand since the outbreak of the pandemic.
