Progress in developing a Covid-19 vaccine has raised hopes the world will be able to better deal with the virus that has so far claimed 1.2 million lives with 49 million confirmed cases.
Vaccines are particularly significant for Thailand, since the country depends much on tourism-related revenue. Tourism, which accounts for 12% of GDP, has become the most vital factor in driving the economy to recover to its pre-pandemic levels.
Unfortunately, the Finance Ministry recently estimated the tourism industry will take at least four years to fully recover from this pandemic.
Reports of new local transmissions connected to a cluster of Thai women who sneaked over the border from Tachilek of Myanmar through a natural trail suggest the many happy weeks in which zero local cases were reported are coming to an end.
As a result, universal access to vaccines is essential for the prevention and containment of Covid-19 in this country.
Access to vaccines will not only benefit people's health but will also provide economic and social benefits. Sufficient vaccination will help the country open its borders to foreign visitors sooner, boosting tourism and investment.
The government has earmarked six billion baht to support the purchase of vaccines.
An advance agreement was recently signed between the National Vaccine Institute and vaccine developer AstraZeneca to secure a supply of its Covid-19 vaccines and for local production with technology from the British-Swedish firm.
However, the contract was for the purchase of 26 million doses, enough for only 13 million people, or just 19% of the total population of 67 million, as each person needs two shots.
WHO experts have pointed to a 65-70% vaccine coverage rate as a way to reach population immunity through vaccination. Yet the government has not secured the country's place in the front row of coronavirus vaccines.
According to a report by Duke Global Health Innovation Center revealing pre-orders of large countries from the three frontrunners of Pfizer Inc, Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca, the EU placed a pre-order of 700 million doses; the US purchased 700 million doses with an option to order an additional 500 million doses; India purchased 500 million doses and Japan, 290 million doses.
The UK purchased 145 million doses; Indonesia and Brazil both purchased 100 million doses each, and Canada purchased 96 million doses. It's not easy for Thailand to obtain global vaccines as several super powers have placed hefty pre-orders from developers.
Still, one question is whether the government has done everything within its power to secure enough Covid-19 vaccines. There are two ways to ensure a bigger effort to secure sufficient vaccines -- inject more money, and support local developers.
For local vaccine development, there are three potential projects. They include a mRNA vaccine by Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine; a DNA-type vaccine by Thai-French Bionet-Asia Co, and plant-based vaccine by Baiya Phytopharm Co, a Thai startup at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Pharmacy.
These projects are, however, struggling for a state budget, which is barely enough as it is.
The government should make more effort to secure global vaccines and also provide full support to local vaccine development to ensure sufficient vaccination in this country.