Remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Med Park Hospital Vaccination Center
August 10, 2021
Sa-wat-dee-kaa. Good morning.
I am here today, as President Biden's representative, to reaffirm our commitment to the Thai people during this unprecedented global health crisis.
The United States has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Thailand for over 200 years.
Our partnership is broad and deep. We do so much together, from our trade and people-to-people exchanges, to our steadfast military alliance, to our cooperation on public health.
It's a relationship based first and foremost on the shared values of our nations.
That's why I'm proud to be here at Med Park Hospital today.
I'm grateful to have the opportunity to see how Thailand is working to vaccinate and protect people with Pfizer vaccines recently provided by the United States.
This morning, I met frontline health care workers — Thailand's heroes — as they received their first doses of the vaccine. And I was inspired to hear about their life-saving work.
I was briefed on how these vaccines are being deployed rapidly, strategically, and efficiently to keep all of Thailand safe.
Since the start of the pandemic, the United States has provided ventilators, PPE, and other critical equipment across the globe to help combat COVID-19.
And American medical personnel are working hand-in-hand with Thai public health authorities to fight this terrible virus.
In order to stop COVID, we know we must work together. COVID has no borders.
The virus does not care whether you are from Thailand, or the United States, Myanmar, or Laos. And no one nation can stop a pandemic on its own.
Extinguishing this virus requires ingenuity, principled leadership, and the cooperation of every nation on the earth.
President Biden has committed America to providing vaccines to the world. He understands that no one is safe until everyone is safe.
So we are providing over half a billion doses to over 100 nations, free of charge, with no strings attached.
In Thailand, we have already delivered 1.5 million doses of Pfizer vaccine, which I just saw going into the arms here in the clinic. We are proud to say we will soon be providing another 1 million doses.
We also know that Thailand is dealing with additional pressures, including responding to humanitarian needs resulting from the crisis in Burma.
So today, I am proud to announce the U.S. government is providing 55 million dollars in assistance, the vast majority of which is going toward humanitarian response efforts. We are also providing assistance to support the pandemic response that will help alleviate the strain on Thailand's health systems.
Specifically, this includes 5 million dollars in COVID-19 assistance for Thailand, which will provide support to health care workers administering vaccines and strengthen Thailand's health system's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to COVID-19.
The 50 million in humanitarian aid will flow directly through international and non-governmental organization partners to provide emergency food assistance, lifesaving protection, shelter, essential health care, water, sanitation, and hygiene services to vulnerable people from Myanmar, including more than 700,000 refugees and internally displaced people.
These resources will help ensure Thailand, NGOs, and international organizations can both respond to the COVID crisis and meet the needs of vulnerable people, particularly in the Thai border area.
These are extremely tough times here and across the globe. And I want the people of Thailand to know the United States will continue to stand with you.
I also want to particularly thank the nurses, doctors, medical personnel, volunteers, and everyone working day and night to stop the virus and save lives.
Thank you.
Download photos at https://state-low.box.com/v/USUN-Amb-LTG-at-Medpark
By U.S. Embassy Bangkok | 10 August, 2021 | Topics: Events, U.S. & Thailand
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