Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul yesterday thanked his "public health team" for supporting him, after surviving a no-confidence vote in parliament at the end of the four-day censure debate.
Lawmakers voted 275-201 with six abstentions to reject the no-confidence motion against Mr Anutin.
Among the 10 cabinet ministers grilled during the debate, Mr Anutin won the most votes of confidence.
The opposition criticised Mr Anutin's handling of the Covid-19 outbreak and the delay in bringing vaccines into the country while neighbouring countries have started their inoculation programmes.
The opposition also faulted the Public Health Ministry for failing to ensure multiple Covid-19 vaccine sources were available to choose from, saying the move has left people's health security in the hands of Siam Bioscience, a company licenced to produce the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The company was asked by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great to produce quality vaccines at reasonable prices for all Thais.
"Thank you to the ministry's team, which is working for the people," Mr Anutin said on Facebook.
"We have received the most votes of confidence from parliamentarians."
"This is not my achievement, it is for you all and all Thais," he added.
He said he received the most votes of confidence because he was able to counter baseless claims raised in the debate, allowing many to feel sympathy for him and all the medical staff working hard to control the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.
The ministry's public health team responded quickly to the opposition's allegations regarding the Covid-19 vaccine distribution plan.
Its members held a press conference to offer information to the public immediately after the opposition's accusations were raised.
At the press conference, the team hit back against the allegations and insisted everything is being done with transparency as it moves to ensure vaccines are in place.
It said the opposition tried to distort the facts and only present only partial information, which has led to misunderstandings, confusing the public.
The government has given a lot of financial support to the country's vaccine development initiative, including state-owned vaccine plants under the Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO), it said.
The country has made progress in producing the AstraZeneca's vaccine, GPO's egg-based vaccine and Chulalongkorn University's mRNA vaccine, the team said.