Health

Thailand approves COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use

The first lot of 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca will arrive in Thailand early next month, after receiving approval from the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Published

2 months ago

January 26, 2021

Boris Sullivan

Bangkok (NNT) – The FDA Secretary General Paisal Dunkhum, said today the FDA had approved the registration of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca in Italy.

The company nearly 10,000 pages of documents for registration in Thailand for approved use during the state of emergency since December 22, 2020. Efficacy, quality and safety of the vaccine was considered by the FDA.

He added that the first delivery of vaccine from AstraZeneca is due in February, consisting of 50,000 doses. The import license lasts one year.

When the vaccine arrives in Thailand, the Department of Medical Sciences will conduct a random inspection of the vaccine to determine its quality before providing it to people. More deliveries, numbering 150,000 doses of vaccine in total, will follow in March and April, he said.

As for the production of the COVID-19 vaccine by AstraZeneca and Siam Bioscience, he said registration of a production facility in Thailand will allow it to become effective in Thailand in May.

50,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to arrive next month

(NNT) – The first lot of 50,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca will arrive in Thailand early next month, after receiving approval from the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Previously, the doses were set to arrive in May. They will first be given to medical personnel.

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, chaired a meeting today (Jan 25) to discuss COVID-19 vaccine management. The meeting was attended by the ministry’s executives and five working bodies. The ministry previously set up subcommittees to take on various aspects.

Today, the meeting followed up on vaccine management and distribution, after the FDA recently approved the emergency use of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and produced abroad.

Initially, the recipients of the vaccine are required to install the Mor Prom application, to monitor side effects of the vaccine. The Public Health Minister said there may be side effects, but the possibility is very low. He urged the people not to be too worried because there are officials specifically assigned to take care of them.

The government will provide full support to ensure that the vaccine distribution covers all Thai citizens in a timely manner and without any disparity.

After receiving the first lot of COVID-19 vaccine doses on February 1, more doses will arrive in March and April, including the vaccine developed in China.

Companies

AstraZeneca Approves Thailand’s Vaccine Factory

Published

3 weeks ago

March 18, 2021

National News Bureau of Thailand

BANGKOK (NNT) – AstraZeneca has approved safety standards at Thailand’s vaccine factory and will send the first batch of raw materials for vaccine production in June.

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Health

Skin-lightening products market to reach US$31 billion by 2024

In emerging Asian and African economies, the natural aspiration to enhance one’s circumstances has led to rapid growth in the market for skin-lightening products, which is projected to reach US$31 billion by 2024.

Published

1 month ago

March 4, 2021

Insead Knowledge

Recent years have seen evolving awareness of systemic inequities including racism, sexism and pro-Western chauvinism.

(more…)

Ecommerce

Has Covid-19 prompted the Belt and Road Initiative to go green?

Published

1 month ago

March 3, 2021

Oxford Business Group

Has Covid-19 prompted the Belt and Road Initiative to go green?

– Covid-19 led to a slowdown in BRI projects
– Chinese overseas investment dropped off in 2020
– Government remains committed to the wide-ranging infrastructure programme
– Sustainability, health and digital to be the new cornerstones of the initiative

Following a year of coronavirus-related disruptions, China appears to be placing a greater focus on sustainable, digital and health-related projects in its flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

As OBG outlined in April last year, the onset of Covid-19 prompted questions about the future direction of the BRI.

Launched in 2013, the BRI is an ambitious international initiative that aims to revive ancient Silk Road trade routes through large-scale infrastructure development.

By the start of 2020 some 2951 BRI-linked projects – valued at a total of $3.9trn – were planned or under way across the world.

However, as borders closed and lockdowns were imposed, progress stalled on a number of major BRI infrastructure developments.

In June China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that 30-40% of BRI projects had been affected by the virus, while a further 20% had been “seriously affected”. Restrictions on the flow of Chinese workers and construction supplies were cited as factors behind project suspensions or slowdowns in Pakistan, Cambodia and Indonesia, among other countries.