The Cabinet, during its meeting on 6 July 2021, approved the purchase of 20 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and five to nine million doses of the Moderna vaccine, as proposed by the Ministry of Public Health.
Concerning the Pfizer vaccine, the Department of Disease Control began to negotiate with the supplier of the Pfizer vaccine before April 2021. The Thai government and the vaccine supplier signed a Confidential Disclosure Agreement on 29 April 2021.
On 26 June, the vaccine supplier sent the Manufacturing and Supply Agreement to the Department of Disease Control, which forwarded it to the Office of the Attorney General.
The Cabinet approved the purchase of 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine on 6 July. In addition, the US government has agreed to donate 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine to Thailand.
As for the Moderna vaccine from Zuellig Pharma Ltd, it is regarded as an alternative choice for the people who are willing to pay for the vaccine to be imported by the private sector. Since the vaccine supplier requires that the vaccine be purchased by the public sector, the Ministry of Public Health had assigned the Government Pharmaceutical Organization to negotiate and sign an agreement with the vaccine supplier to secure five to nine million doses.
In the initial stage, four million doses are expected to be delivered to Thailand in the fourth quarter of this year and one million doses in early next year.
At the same meeting on 6 July, the Cabinet also approved the purchase of another 10.9 million doses of the Sinovac Biotech vaccine at a cost of 6.1 billion baht.
Older persons and those with underlying conditions will be prioritized to get vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the Department of Disease Control.
Source: The Government Public Relations Department