Thai Startup Ready to Produce Covid-19 Vaccine in Weeks - The research team will officially seek about 100 volunteers in August, who are in good health, aged between 18-55 years and 65-75 years. Once the vaccine passes the process successfully, it is expected that it can be produced for use in the middle of 2022. People will receive two vaccinations, three weeks apart, and it will sell for around 300-500 baht per dose. Bangkok Herald

Thai Startup Ready to Produce Covid-19 Vaccine in Weeks

20 July 2021

The government said Monday that a potential Covid-19 vaccine, derived from plant protein which uses the same technology as an as-yet-unapproved vaccine from Novavax Inc. could be ready for production in a few weeks.

Government spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said the vaccine has been developed by Baiya Phytopharm Co., a Thai startup company. The so-called "subunit" vaccine presents one or more antigens to the immune system without introducing pathogen particles, whole or otherwise.

The company will send the documentation to the Food and Drug Administration seeking an inspection of the factory, and expects to begin vaccine production in the next few weeks. It will undergo early human testing around September as planned.

The research team will officially seek about 100 volunteers in August, who are in good health, aged between 18-55 years and 65-75 years. Once the vaccine passes the process successfully, it is expected that it can be produced for use in the middle of 2022. People will receive two vaccinations, three weeks apart, and it will sell for around 300-500 baht per dose.



Despite being Southeast Asia’s manufacturing hub of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, Thailand is struggling with a severe shortage of jabs for its own population. The situation is so serious that the government decided to go ahead with the world’s first Sinovac-AstraZeneca mixed inoculation program in spite of loud public complaint. Thai PBS World

Revelations about AstraZeneca contract inject more controversy into Thai vaccine saga

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Despite being Southeast Asia's manufacturing hub of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine, Thailand is struggling with a severe shortage of jabs for its own population. The situation is so serious that the government decided to go ahead with the world's first Sinovac-AstraZeneca mixed inoculation program in spite of loud public complaint.

False assurances?    

Earlier this year, the government dismissed criticism that its vaccination plan was inadequate given it had reserved just 26 million doses of AstraZeneca. The deal included knowledge transfer to allow royally-owned pharmaceutical firm Siam Bioscience to produce the vaccine in Thailand. The government then began importing Sinovac jabs from China to tackle the second wave of infections and announced it had ordered another 35 million AstraZeneca doses.

In early June, Disease Control Department (DCD) director-general Dr Opart Karnkawinpong described the deal for 61 million AstraZeneca jabs as the core of Thailand's plan to procure 100 million doses before year-end.

Health authorities promised that from mid-2021 AstraZeneca would start delivering about 10 million doses every month, and called on all Thais to register for their jab.

However, shortly after mass vaccination launched on June 7, millions of Thais found their bookings cancelled. The authorities then changed their tune, saying AstraZeneca could set the volume for each delivery but would definitely supply all 61 million doses by year-end.

The promises and assurances from the government continued in this vein until a doctor anonymously leaked a letter apparently sent from AstraZeneca to Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul last week. Dated June 25, the letter showed that AstraZeneca had offered no guaranteed timeframe for the delivery of all 61 million jabs.

What does the leak reveal? 

According to the letter, Thailand signed the contract for 26 million doses in January this year and for 35 million more doses in May.

Given that the amount accounted for 34.93 per cent of total doses ordered by Southeast Asia, AstraZeneca planned to supply 5 to 6 million doses per month – or about a third of its production capacity in Thailand – to the Thai government. The company also pointed out that this amount was nearly double the supply Thailand had said it would need during discussions with AstraZeneca last September.

This leak appeared to confirm Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Pitutecha's recent announcement that AstraZeneca had said it would deliver all 61 million doses by May next year.

Authorities' explanation 

On July 18, Opart told the media that the 3 million doses mentioned in the discussion on September 7last year referred to the number of doses the country could administer per month according to data at the time. "But we later informed AstraZeneca that if there was enough supply, we could administer up to 10 million doses a month," he said.

When asked about the timeframe for deliveries by AstraZeneca, Opart said parties to the contract would need to negotiate further based on demand and supply.

"Since the contract was prepared before actual production began, we did not know exactly how much could be expected each month. Thus, we didn't go into those details in the contract," he said.

He added that DCD did tell AstraZeneca later that it would need 6 million doses in June, 10 million per month from July to November and 5 million more in December.

Opart also revealed that the contract for 26 million doses was signed last November. Between January and March this year, the government made moves to procure another 35 million doses. DCD then amended the contract to cover the additional doses and sent it to AstraZeneca on March 25.However, the response from AstraZeneca only arrived on May 4, Opart claimed.

"We will negotiate further with AstraZeneca to push for supplies," he said. "AstraZeneca has not officially said the last batch will arrive in May next year. This also depends on its production capacity here, which is in the process of being boosted."

As of July 16, AstraZeneca had delivered 8.19 million doses to Thailand.

Is the contract unfair? 

Social critic Sarinee Achavanuntakul says the contract appears to place Thailand at a disadvantage. Writing on Facebook, she said it gives the country little chance of receiving more than what AstraZeneca plans to provide.

"It seems like Thais have been deceived into believing that 61 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be available this year," Sarinee said.

Vaccine delays elsewhere too 

Thailand is not the only country hit by vaccine shortages. Several countries in Europe and Asia, notably Taiwan and Malaysia, are experiencing the same problem.

The European Union (EU) was so incensed that it decided to sue AstraZeneca over delayed deliveries. The Anglo-Swedish company developed its vaccine in collaboration with Oxford University and is providing the shots at no profit during the pandemic.

However, the EU lost its battle to force AstraZeneca to deliver 120 million doses by the end of June. A Belgian court ruled that the pharmaceutical company only had to deliver 80 million doses by September – significantly fewer than the amount the EU was demanding. AstraZeneca also escaped without a fine.

Emerging information suggests that Thailand, like the EU, signed a contract with a clause stipulating that AstraZeneca will make its "best effort" to meet orders, rather than a guarantee.

Can Thailand afford to export jabs? 

National Vaccine Institute director Dr Nakorn Premsri said the National Vaccine Committee had approved in principle the idea of a ministerial order to limit export of vaccines made by Siam Bioscience. The export cap is deemed necessary as the COVID-19 crisis has flared up with more than 10,000 new infections daily and around 100 deaths per day.

Four months ago, India temporarily halted the export of AstraZeneca at the height of its COVID-19 outbreak. In Thailand, Public Health Minister Anutin has voiced support for temporarily halting vaccine exports.

Vaccines from other makers 

Anutin said the Thai Food and Drug Administration will seek a meeting this week with representatives of all makers of COVID-19 vaccine registered in Thailand.

"We will try to procure more vaccines, especially the mRNA type that people want," he said.

By Thai PBS World's General Desk 



Thailand Warns of Total Lockdown as 11,305 More Covid-19 Cases Reported. The continuing high number of daily cases will not ease anytime soon, the Center for Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration said. Models produced by the agency indicate that, even in a best-case scenario, cases will remain at 9,000-12,000 thrugh at least the middle of August- Bangkok Herald

Thailand Warns of Total Lockdown as 11,305 More Covid-19 Cases Reported

20 July 2021

Thailand on Tuesday saw a slight decrease in the number of locally transmitted coronavirus cases with 10,710, although another 595 were found in prisons.

The figures released today by the Public Health Ministry mark the third straight day of 11,000 or more total cases and comes as new curfews, stay-at-home and travel restrictions take effect.

Another 80 deaths were reported as well.

Chonburi – one of thee newly designated "deep red" maximum control and strict control areas saw 537 more cases with a record 193 found in Banglamung District, which includes Pattaya.

Today brings more control to the maximum-control areas. A "suggested" stay-at-home order will be in place during 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the public told to stay home unless necessary. While there will be no fines or jail time for those leaving home, authorities said they considered the only legitimate reasons to be out are to purchase food or medicine, seek medical attention or Covid-19 vaccinations or to go to work when working at home isn't possible.

All non-essential businesses remain closed but those permitted to stay open – supermarkets, convenience stores and takeout restaurants – must now close at 8 p.m. The hard curfew continues from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Starting Wednesday, no domestic flights to or from Bangkok and other dark red areas will be allowed, with exceptions for medical flights, emergency landings and flights serving the Phuket "sandbox" or "Samui Plus" tourism schemes.

Surface transport also is getting locked down. Checkpoints have been set up on the borders of the 13 dark red provinces with people needing to show approved documents to leave the provinces, including ones that display QR codes obtained here.

The movements of people in the 13 provinces will be restricted, while those who seek to visit dark red zones needing a valid reason and be subject to screening upon entry. The toughened measures will be in place until at least Aug 2.

These 13 provinces comprise Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Chon Buri, Chachoengsao, Ayutthaya and the southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani, Songkhla and Yala.

The continuing high number of daily cases will not ease anytime soon, the Center for Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration said. Models produced by the agency indicate that, even in a best-case scenario, cases will remain at 9,000-12,000 thrugh at least the middle of August.

Left unchecked, the virus could infect nearly 32,000 people, a day, the CCSA. That, however, won't happen as long as people abide by lockdown rules.

Should they not, the government warned, a complete lockdown – day and night – could be coming for the dark red zones.

The WHO has identified four such variants of concern: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta; and four variants of interest: Eta, Iota, Kappa and Lambda. NNT / WHO / Aljazeera

 







Delta takes over as dominant variant. Dr Supakit Sirilak, the department's chief, said about 63% of more than 3,000 cases analysed by the department are found to be the Delta strain, first detected in India, while 34% are the Alpha variant, first discovered in the UK. The rest are the Beta strain which is dominant in the deep South. Bangkok Post



Delta takes over as dominant variant

The Delta Covid-19 variant has taken over the Alpha variant as the dominant strain in the country, accounting for 63% of infections, according to the Department of Medical Sciences.

Dr Supakit Sirilak, the department's chief, said about 63% of more than 3,000 cases analysed by the department are found to be the Delta strain, first detected in India, while 34% are the Alpha variant, first discovered in the UK. The rest are the Beta strain which is dominant in the deep South.

Eleven provinces -- Mae Hong Son, Kanchanaburi, Samut Songkhram, Chachoengsao, Trat, Surin, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Phangnga, and Pattani -- reported their first Delta cases recently, raising the number of provinces where the variant was detected to 72.

He said the spread of the highly contagious variant is behind the surge in infections.

The Beta variant, which initially surfaced in South Africa, is dominant in Narathiwat but more cases are also being found in the surrounding provinces of Pattani, Yala, Songkhla and Phatthalung. Chumphon, a province further up in the South, has detected its first Beta variant case.

Dr Supakit said health authorities are investigating a case of Beta variant in the northeastern province of Bung Kan and keeping a close watch on the situation there after a Thai man who returned from Taiwan was found infected with the strain.

The patient tested negative in quarantine but was found infected after returning to Bung Kan. Three more close contacts were later confirmed as infected. More testing was under way.

He said three of Beta variant infections in Bangkok are linked to the patients in Narathiwat and if there are no new cases of this strain next week, the situation would be considered under control.

He added there were no new cases of of co-infections, after the department reported early last week that seven construction workers in Bangkok were suspected to have each been infected with a combination of the Alpha and Delta variants.



Phuket tightens up Covid-19 restrictions. Phuket has heightened Covid-19 control measures as the number of new cases there has risen slightly, with the governor saying more restrictions are crucial to keep the situation under control and the Phuket Sandbox tourism reopening programme going. Bangkok Post

Phuket tightens up Covid-19 restrictions

Phuket governor Narong Wunsiew

Phuket has heightened Covid-19 control measures as the number of new cases there has risen slightly, with the governor saying more restrictions are crucial to keep the situation under control and the Phuket Sandbox tourism reopening programme going.

Aimed at stemming the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus, a set of new Covid-19 control measures were rolled out on Monday and were due to take effect from today until Aug 2, said Narong Wunsiew, the provincial governor.

These measures were issued while the number of new Covid-19 cases was about a dozen each day, even though the province had initially planned to step up Covid-19 controls only when the number of new cases reached 90 per week, said Piyaphong Chuwong, a deputy provincial governor.

The curbs include a temporary shutdown of pubs, bars, karaoke shops and other similar types of entertainment venues, said Mr Narong.

Among other measures, the closing time of shopping malls and restaurants serving alcoholic beverages will be 9pm, while partying and drinking alcohol on the beaches, in public parks and other public spaces will be totally banned, he said.

"Violations of these Covid-19 control measures will lead to imprisonment of between one and two years and a fine of between 20,000 baht and 100,000 baht," he said.

"While the Covid-19 situation in Phuket is still now under control, these measures are primarily aimed at keeping the Phuket Sandbox programme going, improving public safety and preventing the outbreak situation from getting worse," said Mr Piyaphong.

Since its launch on July 1, the Phuket Sandbox programme has as of Saturday welcomed a total of 7,462 visitors who are estimated to altogether have spent 200 million baht while staying on the reopened resort island, he said.

"If there is no Phuket Sandbox, no new income is generated. Now many people have begun to earn money from things like rent as many hotel staff members have returned to work and need accommodation," he said.

"Restaurants, food stalls and markets are reopening and are seeing a rise in customers," he said.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is trying to convince the rest of the world that although the overall Covid-19 situation in Thailand is worsening, Phuket is still a safe place to visit, he said.

Previously only between nine and 15 new Covid-19 cases were detected per day, while only two cases were recorded on Sunday, said Dr Chalermpong Sukontapol, director of Vachira Phuket Hospital.

None of the infected people have developed severe symptoms of the disease, he said.

To be precise, he said, so far a total of 16 Covid-19 cases have been detected among visitors under the Phuket Sandbox programme, seven of who were found to have the virus in tests conducted upon arrival, while another traveller developed Covid-19 symptoms about three days later.

Seven other international arrivals tested positive for the virus about six days to a week after arriving, while the final tourist tested positive for the virus on the 13th day of his stay, said the doctor.

All in all, the infection situation among international travellers visiting Phuket under the Phuket Sandbox programme isn't as worrisome as that of the Thai people visiting the province, he said.

🔴 #COVID19 Update on Tuesday: 11,305 cases & 80 deaths - 15 July: 9,186 - 98 dead 16 July: 9,692 - 67 dead 17 July: 10,082 - 141 dead 18 July: 11,397 - 101 dead 19 July: 11,784 - 81 dead. Richard Barrow

 





Chonburi Governor releases new provincial orders for change to maximum control/dark red zone. Pattaya News

Chonburi Governor releases new provincial orders for change to maximum control/dark red zone

Monday, 19 July 2021, 23:48

Pattaya, Chonburi-

  The Chonburi Governor released through their public relations accounts tonight, July 19th, 2021, new orders around closures, measures, and restrictions as the province becomes a "Dark Red" zone.

  First, get caught up on the general dark red zone rules by reading this here.

Now that you have refreshed your memory on the overall dark red zone rules, let's get into the specifics of the Chonburi order released around 11:00 P.M. tonight. These are effective from tomorrow, July 20th, 2021 until further notice:

-Leaving your home without permission (such as work like law enforcement or medical) or a medical emergency between 9:00 P.M. to 4:00 A.M. is prohibited. Law enforcement will be out looking for people violating this rule, high fines, and possible jail time for those who break this rule. (curfew)

-During all other hours one should refrain from leaving home except for essentials such as work that cannot be done from home, food, medicine, doctor appointments, pharmacy visits, items needed for life, etc. This is not a hard ban like overnight, but one should limit leaving their home if at all possible.

-One may be required to show the Thai Chana application at checkpoints, which will be throughout the province and especially around interprovincial borders.

-If one needs to travel, especially from province to province, they should have documentation showing the trip is urgent and needed (like a vaccination appointment, or embassy appointment confirmation.)

-Checkpoints, as stated, will be placed throughout the province, especially to stop the transportation of migrant workers without permission and to discourage travel. Travel is not banned, per se, but must be done for essentials only.

  Closed until further notice, along with what was stated in the general dark red zone information above:

-Entertainment venues, bars, clubs, karaoke, gentlemen clubs, soapie massages, etc. (Have already been closed for three and a half months)

-Fish, chicken, bullfighting fields, legal gambling establishments (also already closed for months)

-Cinemas, theaters (same as above)

-Snookers, billiards, bowling, skating, similar places (same as above)

-arcades, amusement parks indoor and outdoor

-places for celebrations and parties, conference centers, banquet halls, etc (Remember, a limit to only 5 people)

-nurseries/eldercare centers (except overnight places)

-amulet markets

-All types of massage shops, including foot massages, health establishments, weight loss clinics (Sorry folks massage wise, had lots of questions on this)

-Spas, beauty clinics, salons, including in private hospitals, tattoo shops (They didn't specifically say barbershop, just said places for beauty, we advise owners of these establishments to check with local authorities)

-Gyms, fitness centers, indoor sports stadiums (another popular question, sorry folks.)

-In-person learning at schools remain closed

Can open with restrictions:

-Game and internet cafes from 4:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.

-Swimming pool, water park can open from 4:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. No alcohol. (Another popular one. Pools can stay open! Keep in mind some condos may choose to close them and this would be a juristic office decision.)

-Amulet centers and small shops (not markets) can open from 4:00 A.M. to 8:00 A.M.

-Restaurants, food carts, convenience stores, food vendors, food courts, canteens can open until 8:00 P.M. NO DINE-IN. TAKE AWAY/DELIVERY ONLY. No alcohol. (Canteens in hospitals overnight can stay open for hospital staff/patients only)

-Public parks, outdoor sports stadiums, places for outdoor exercise are open until 8:00 P.M. (Yes, exercise is essential and a reason to go outside.)

-Malls, Department stores can open only for supermarkets, drugstores, and vaccination areas. (There is some question here about restaurants in malls, but they are not allowed to dine in regardless. Please check with the city call center at 1337 or mall management if you are not sure.)

-Hospitals, clinics, drugstores, local shops, financial businesses, banks, communication businesses, pet food stores, hardware stores, gas stations, post offices, and other shops that are essential including delivery can open.

-Markets, Convenience stores are open from 4:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.

-Hotels and exhibition centers can open, however, no dining-in and no meetings/conferences.

-There were NO references to golf courses, fishing parks, or the beach.It is "assumed" they may be able to open as a result but we STRONGLY advise checking with the city call center and authorities at 1337 if you are an owner or the venue you are interested in visiting if you are a customer in advance. As for beaches, as they were not named it appears they remain open at this time with current rules, such as no alcohol, in place.

Once again, if you don't see your business listed and are not sure, please call the city call center at 1337 and double-check with them. Take care and stay safe.



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