How close is a vaccine ?

[TMax]

It looks like the Astrazeneca / Oxford University vaccine is proving itself, this is good for Australians (and me) as we have a license to produce it in Melbourne, they also believe it will be effective against the new strain in the UK. In another article it said they may be rolling it out in the UK within days, it's just waiting for it to be approved. This is also the one that the Australian government has said it will be sharing with others in the region to help them out.

***********

LONDON — The COVID-19 vaccine developed by the British drug group AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford has achieved a “winning formula” for efficacy, the company’s chief executive said on Sunday.

The vaccine, currently being evaluated by Britain’s independent medicines regulator, provides “100 percent protection” against severe COVID disease requiring hospitalization, Pascal Soriot said in an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper.

He added he believes trials will show his firm has achieved a vaccine efficacy equal to Pfizer-BioNTech at 95 percent and Moderna at 94.5 percent.

[reader]

George Orwell introduced the world to the Thought Police in "1984," a novel still in publication 71 years later. Today's edition of the Thaiger introduced readers to the snot police who were summoned after a bus passenger removed his mask to blow his nose into a tissue.

If this is any indication of the new covid hysteria, a vaccine can't come soon enough.

From The Thaiger

Police called after Bangkok bus passenger removes his mask to blow his nose

Police were called after a passenger on a public Bangkok bus blew is nose and spit in a tissue. Thai media reports that the bus driver ordered the man to get off the bus in Bangkok’s Petchkasem area and that the passenger eventually agreed after the police were called.

The man had removed his mask and was wiping and blowing his nose with a tissue. Someone video recorded the man and posted it on Facebook saying it was “terrible behavior.” Thai media reports that many passengers were worried about the spread of Covid-19 after the recent spike in cases.

=================================

P.S. I'm omitting a video of the heinous act shot by a fellow passenger that was embedded in the article just in case the virus can be transmitted over the internet.

[vinapu]

you right about hysteria as patience of populations everywhere is wearing thin.

Calling police and video recording was clearly overreaction but being worried if one was on the bus was not.

One of my friends who suffered and survived tells me that  worst part of that debacle is that  neither her nor her husband have smallest idea how they contracted it , when and how  as they were living secluded life , working from home and barely getting out. She said exactly what you did above , half-jokingly of course that only explanation she has is that it came by e-mail

[spoon]

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

you right about hysteria as patience of populations everywhere is wearing thin.

Calling police and video recording was clearly overreaction but being worried if one was on the bus was not.

One of my friends who suffered and survived tells me that  worst part of that debacle is that  neither her nor her husband have smallest idea how they contracted it , when and how  as they were living secluded life , working from home and barely getting out. She said exactly what you did above , half-jokingly of course that only explanation she has is that it came by e-mail

The virus couldve come from many places even if you stayed at home. Couldve come through delivery (food/mail/packages), couldve contracted while they went out for groceries, from someone visiting. Ive seen some of my friends initially even put his packages away for few days before opening during the peak of the outbreak in the states. And ive heard people first disinfecting their purchases right after opening it. 

Just to add, so far, 4 of my family members had close encounter to this virus. 1 works in healthcare, had to take the test 3 times already. 2 had to work in office, and their colleague were tested positive, so they had to get the test. All of them luckily tested negative. The last one was just this morning, had flu symptom so went for voluntary testing and waiting for result which is probably tomorrow. All of these happened within this month alone. 

So while the bus driver did over react, i am not surprised at all, especially when  he needed to stay healthy to earn a living. 

[vinapu]

45 minutes ago, spoon said:

... even put his packages away for few days before opening during the peak of the outbreak in the states. .....

this is what we do in the office , all mail and paperwork delivered by the clients is put aside in designated box and not opened /  assigned until last working hour of the following day. So far we  are holding up without even suspicion of infection.

[Guest]

At home, I open the post, put the packaging in the bin and wash my hands before checking the contents.

Newspapers spend a few minutes in the oven at 70C.

[reader]

From The Nation

Foreigners who have been vaccinated still need to quarantine

The Public Health Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday saying all arrivals to Thailand will have to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine even if they have been vaccinated.

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said the Covid-19 vaccines are still new and their effectiveness have still not been determined. He added that it still too early to say whether an inoculated person can be considered safe enough to travel.

[vinapu]

it looks thay have the same question I do- whether inoculated person can still be virus carrier without getting sick himself

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Herbal Covid treatment cleared, vaccine registration opens

Health officials said Thailand is ready to register Covid-19 vaccines after separately approving the use of a herbal plant extract to treat early stages of the disease as a pilot program amid a flareup in the coronavirus outbreak across the country.

Andrographis Paniculata, commonly known as green chiretta, will serve as an alternative treatment to reduce the severity of the outbreak and cut treatment costs, the health ministry said in a statement Wednesday. The treatment will be available in five state-owned hospitals initially, it said.

Thailand reported 250 new cases on Wednesday, taking the nation’s total to almost 7,000, and a government official said the rate of increase in local transmissions was alarming and urged people to stay at home to prevent the virus from spreading further. The government has also banned large gatherings in high-risk areas, said Taweesilp Witsanuyotin, a spokesperson for the national Covid-19 response centre.

The herbal treatment will be on a voluntary basis for those in the 18-60 age group with minor symptoms and should be within 72 hours of confirming infections

The extract from the plant, known as Fah Talai Jone in Thai, can curb the virus and reduce the severity of inflammation, the ministry said, citing studies.

Human trials showed patient conditions improved within three days of the treatment without side effects if the medicine is administered within 72 hours of testing positive. 

Separately, the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it’s ready to register Covid-19 vaccines.

The FDA has opened a special channel for the registration to ensure speedy processing.

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

2m Covid vaccine doses available by April

Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday he had secured the supply of at least 2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine from producers "between February and April".

He said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday dircted him to discuss procurement with all producers that have made their vaccines available.

It was intended to acquire vaccines to help cope with the ongoing outbreak.

"Efforts and negotiations with vaccine producers mean that between February and April 2021, at least 2 million doses of vaccine will be initially delivered to Thailand," Mr Anutin wrote on his Facebook account.

Preparations would be made to ensure the vaccine was distributed to at-risk people, Mr Anutin said.

He did not say which vaccine it is. 

The government earlier signed an advance agreement with AstraZaneca for the supply and production of its Covid-19 vaccine, but supplies were not expected before May.

[reader]

From The Thaiger

Vaccines bring hope, but we won’t be out of the woods for some time – Thai health officials

Health officials in Thailand have welcomed the development of a number of seemingly-effective Covid-19 vaccines but warn that the “new normal” will remain for some time. In an interview with the Bangkok Post, Opas Karnkawinpong from the Department of Disease Control says people will still have to wear masks, observe social distancing, and wash their hands regularly.

“The challenge posed by Covid-19 is new and we have no playbook for it. No one knows whether these vaccines will work or how long the immunity will last. It is a learning process and scientists around the world can only watch and learn at the moment. Until the ministry is convinced the vaccination is effective and safe, restrictions will remain. And even after that, the easing will be gradual. The government must inoculate more than 50% of the population, then assess whether herd immunity kicks in.”

Opas confirms that, once available, the vaccine will be administered for free – at least for Thai residents. Certain groups will receive priority based on their risk level. The government has already committed to speeding up the vaccination timeline, as Thailand finds itself battling a resurgence of the virus. This will be the biggest vaccination drive ever carried out in the Kingdom.

Opas points out that, while administering the vaccine to tens of millions of people is a challenge in itself, the real test will be in monitoring what happens afterwards. He says it must be made clear to people that 1 shot is not enough and they must return for a second. Data will also need to be gathered to ascertain the vaccine’s effectiveness and how long protection lasts.

Thailand is due to take delivery of 200,000 vaccine doses from China at the end of next month, followed by increased supplies in March and April. Healthcare workers in provinces considered high-risk will be first in line, as well as border patrol officials and vulnerable members of society.

A full national roll-out is not expected to take place before May, with the arrival of 26 million doses of the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca in partnership with the UK’s Oxford University. In addition, the government is in talks to procure a further 35 million doses shortly after. Both sides have also signed a technology-transfer agreement that gives manufacturing rights to the Thai firm, Siam Bioscience.

Meanwhile, Dr Nakorn Premsri from the National Vaccine Institute echoes the DDC’s note of caution.

“No vaccine is 100% effective. The influenza vaccine, for example, is only around 50% preventative. So, we can expect this vaccine only to reduce fatalities and relieve the symptoms. People must still take reasonable precautions. It won’t be until 2 years after most people are vaccinated that Covid-19 can no longer be considered an epidemic.”

============================================

From Bangkok Post

Philippines seeks 148m Covid shots this year for 2/3 of population

MANILA: The Philippines is negotiating with seven vaccine manufacturers to procure at least 148 million Covid-19 shots as it seeks to inoculate close to two-thirds of its population this year, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Carlito Galvez, a former general in charge of the country's strategy to fight the coronavirus, said the government hopes to close deals with Novavax, Moderna, AstraZeneca , Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac Biotech and the Gamaleya Institute this month, although availability could be a challenge amid stiff competition.

Healthcare workers, elderly, soldiers, police, teachers and government workers will be prioritised in a rollout that could start as early as the first quarter, he said.

============================================

From Bangkok Post

WHO virus mission blunted as China refuses team entry

BEIJING: An expert mission to China to probe the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic was in disarray Wednesday after Beijing denied entry to the World Health Organization team at the last minute despite months of painstaking negotiations.

Ten experts were due to arrive in China this week for the delicate, highly politicised task of establishing how and where the virus jumped from animals to humans.

But with a number of the team already in transit, China denied them entry visas, prodding WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to say he was "very disappointed".

 

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Thai inoculation  schedule

The government has set three phases of Covid-19 vaccination for citizens, with the first phase to cover 1 million people in vulnerable groups from February to April, the chief of the Disease Control Department said on Thursday.

Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, the director-general, said the first phase would involve 2 million doses, and be used to reduce the rate of severe illness and death from Covid-19 and to maintain the national health system.

The 2-million-dose vaccination was set from February to April. It would be for 80,000 medical personnel and health volunteers, 20,000 disease control workers, 900,000 people aged 60 and over, and people with chronic diseases.

The first recipients would be in Samut Sakhon province, greater Bangkok and the eastern provinces of Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat, which had high levels of infection  and had been declared maximum control zones, he said.

People with chronic disease who may otherwise die after Covid-19 infection included those with severe respiratory illnesses such chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, cardiovascular disease, renal failure of stage 5 and over, stroke, diabetes and all kinds of cancer.

Medical personnel to be vaccinated were those likely to be in contact with Covid-19 patients. Disease control workers included officials at border checkpoints, disease control areas along the border and field hospitals.

The second phase would involve 26 million doses to be given to people in vulnerable groups nationwide in May and June, to protect the national economy, society and security.

The third phase, set for later this year to early next year, would involve vaccinating enough of the general population to develop herd immunity and stop the spread of Covid-19 at community level.

Each person would need two doses, four weeks apart. It would take 1-2 months for the vaccine to have full effect, Dr Opas said.

[vinapu]

in short, no gates will open any time soon

[reader]

This appears to open the door for expats and others to obtain a vaccine if they are able to pony up the price private hospitals decide to charge.

From The Nation

Private hospitals can import Covid vaccine: Thai FDA

The government will not block private hospitals from importing Covid-19 vaccines, said the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday. However, the vaccines must be approved and registered with the FDA, said its secretary-general Dr Paisan Dankhum.

The FDA chief confirmed that AstraZeneca (Thailand) and Sinovac Biotech have submitted approval applications with the FDA for their vaccines, which are being purchased by the government.

Manufacturers or importers of other vaccines that have already been registered by foreign food and drug agencies could also apply for approval, said Paisan. The state does not have a monopoly on Covid-19 vaccines and would not block their import, he added. Private hospitals could purchase a vaccine that is registered with the FDA or, as licensees, register the vaccine themselves.

[reader]

From Bangkok Post

Private hospitals reserve Covid-19 vaccines ahead of approval

wo private hospitals have ordered millions of doses of coronavirus vaccines ahead of regulatory approval, adding to government orders of vaccines as Thailand tackles a second wave of the virus.

"We ordered one million doses of the Sinovac vaccine with an option to buy nine million more," Boon Vanasin, the chairman of Thonburi Healthcare Group Plc, told Reuters.

From the initial one million doses, he plans to use about half to inoculate staff in its network of 40 hospitals and workers in his other businesses, once receiving approval from Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The government has separately ordered two million doses from China's Sinovac Biotech and expects delivery of 200,000 doses with plans to inoculate frontline workers and medical professionals in high-risk areas next month.

The government has also ordered 61 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which will be produced by local firm Siam Bioscience for domestic use and export.

"We can’t just wait for the government," Boon said, adding that it was not clear how many doses from the government’s vaccine stockpile would reach private hospital workers.

For patients, Thonburi's medical centres plan to offer two vaccine injections for 3,200 baht.

Another private hospital, Vibhavadi Medical Centre Plc, has ordered 10,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine, managing director Chaisit Kupwiwat, told Reuters.

So far, the FDA has received registration requests for the Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines.

Thailand is expected to approve one of the vaccines this week for emergency use, Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, told a briefing without elaborating.

[vinapu]

it's good to have review but likely we will not have a choice and will take whatever jabs our government will provide.

Great unknown is  how long immunity will be secured for. But that can be only found in time.

If I had a choice I'd pick up one I can get fastest to get over with.

[Jasper]

Vaccination packages mulled

from Bangkok Post

Tour operators have floated the idea of luring inbound travellers with vaccination tour packages after the first batch of inoculations are distributed to high-risk groups in February.

"After the vaccines arrive, we need a tourism plan by the second quarter this year to create more demand," said Chamnan Srisawat, Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) president.

The one-month tour packages are expected to cost 150,000 baht, including a 14-day quarantine in an alternative state quarantine or alternative local quarantine facility and vaccination costs.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2055191/vaccination-packages-mulled

[vinapu]

will Thailand let them in without vaccination in the first place?

[Guest]

50,000 for quarantine and 100,000 for a vaccine of unknown source ?   No thanks.

 

[spoon]

1 minute ago, z909 said:

50,000 for quarantine and 100,000 for a vaccine of unknown source ?   No thanks.

 

I assume the 150k includes lodging for the whole month? 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, spoon said:

I assume the 150k includes lodging for the whole month? 

My quarantine cost 50,000.   For that, I got:

1 A taxi from the airport

2 15 nights accommotion, with 3 meals a day, water and coffee capsules for the machine  The smaller rooms in the hotel were 5000 baht cheaper.

3 Two covid tests

 

Now, even though it's a nice hotel,  hell would freeze over before I would voluntarily stay in the same hotel for a 16th night !   Firstly, I want a change of scenery.   Secondly, if the hotel has potential covid cases, I want to be further away.  Although, my understanding is any hotel that wants to do both quarantine and normal guests needs to keep them in separate wings of the hotel.

I was out of the door well before 9:00 am on release day.  

 

Also, the cost of an Astra Zeneca vaccine is about £4 per dose.  

[TotallyOz]

I keep checking hospital websites to offer this. As soon as it is offered for sale, I'll be going. Well, at Bumrungrad or another hospital I trust.

[anddy]

On 1/18/2021 at 8:15 PM, reader said:

For patients, Thonburi's medical centres plan to offer two vaccine injections for 3,200 baht.

Given the minimal cost of AstraZeneca and Sinovac that looks like a hefty profit margin. Though undoubtedly it will include the usual 100-300 hospital fee each visit incurs (basically for taking your temperature and blood pressure) and a doctor's fee of 800-1000. So "only" 2000 left for the actual vaccine, still a great margin. 

Having said that, as a foreigner we can't expect to get this on the cheap, and to me it really makes no difference if I pay the equivalent of 50 or 100 or even 200 Euros as along as I can get it reasonably fast.