Vaccine no panacea
In "Will vaccines end our economic slump?" Chartchai Parasuk reveals a sobering economist's view of Thailand's future prospects (Opinion, Nov 19).
Covid-19 vaccines will add a tremendous burden upon already beleaguered citizens worldwide. This is not only due to high vaccine costs, but to very expensive cryogenic distribution and storage, massive data collection and management (governments love this part) and the inevitable (and probably extensive) side effects resulting in hospitalisations and an average six to eight days of lost time for those vaccinated.
The Financial Times recently reported that the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) has paid Genpact UK a tender of £1.5m (60.7 million baht) to develop an AI tool to analyse the high volume of adverse reactions to Covid-19 vaccines. Despite this, the Economic Times tells readers a "reported adverse effect doesn't mean a vaccine isn't safe".
The tiny fraction of Covid-19 cases which were detected in Moderna's placebo group referred to by Khun Chartchai was not low due to the effectiveness of masks, social distancing and lockdowns.
A simple look at the graphs of cases occurring after mask mandates and lockdowns in the United States demonstrates the profound lack of effectiveness of these policies. Massive spikes in incidence of infections following the implementation of these policies prove that they are more deadly than the virus itself.
Thailand's return to prosperity will require a significantly more enlightened and disciplined approach to these issues than is presently the case. The government has better things to do than repress protesters and weigh down the people with restrictive benighted policies. A change is needed.