Thailand preps for Sinovac Covid-19 shots; FDA warns no documents, no approval

Thailand is underway to receive some 200,000 doses of Chinese-made Sinovac next month, according to news reports; Medical front liners, elderly people, and those in the high-risk groups are said to be prioritized.  The country has secured two million doses from Sinovac and will be arriving in batches of 800,000 and 1 million from March to April.  As of press time,  Sinovac roll-out still needs approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FDA is said to be awaiting documents from Sinovac for review of the vaccine’s safety and efficacy.

Surachoke Tangwiwat,  FDA’s Deputy Secretary-General has pledged to scrutinize the documents and  “scientific evidence” on the vaccines and will not expedite the approval process.  

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is also quoted as stating that half of the country’s population will get Covid-19 vaccines free of charge by this year.  

Read: Thailand secures 2 mn Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines; gets first 200K in Feb

The country is also gearing up the production of locally-made and affordable vaccines  from  Bangkok-based Siam Bioscience, which has  inked a partnership deal late last year with the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca to make 200 million doses/year of the COVID-19 vaccine, AZD1222.  Thai packaging solutions company, SCG has also joined in the partnership. 

Tags: COVID-19, FDA, Sinovac, vaccine

Category: Features, Pharmaceuticals