The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday insisted it had no role in the donation of Moderna Covid-19 vaccines from Poland to Thammasat University, which has been beset by repeated delays over paperwork concerns.
The statement came in response to media reports which claimed that Thammasat University is struggling to get the necessary paperwork from the government, which it needs to receive the three million doses of the Moderna vaccines from Poland.
The donated vaccines were supposed to be delivered to Thailand yesterday, but a source at Thammasat University said the shipment will be delayed as the government has yet to issue the required paperwork.
A statement issued by the MFA's Information Department yesterday, the Polish Governmental Agency for Strategic Reserves (RARS) has confirmed with the university that it will be donating 3 million doses of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.
RARS has signalled its readiness to send the first batch of 1.5 million doses as soon as possible, the statement said, though it added that the MFA has yet to receive a notification about an intended donation from the agency from its Polish counterpart.
The MFA said that it had no role in the agreement between the RARS and the university, adding the donation was the result of a direct negotiation between the university and RARS.
As such, the ministry has no authority to put the brakes on the vaccine agreement between the university and Polish government agency.