Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and US Ambassador to Thailand Michael George DeSombre have agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two nations in Covid-19 vaccine development in Thailand.

Thailand, US cooperate in HIV, Covid-19 vaccine development. (Photo: pattayamail.com)

The minister says the Thai government is ready to support vaccine development by any institution, so that local people will have access to vaccines once they are developed.

Anutin and DeSombre observed vaccine research and development at the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), and followed up on progress of the HIV and Covid-19 vaccine development programmes, jointly conducted by Thailand and the US.

The Thai official said the visit underlined the cooperation between the two countries in developing vaccines against dengue fever, malaria, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as well as Covid-19.

The two nations also agreed to build a laboratory animal centre to test experimental vaccines. If the AFRIMS need assistance or support, the Ministry of Public Health has allocated funds for Covid-19 vaccine research. The ministry is ready to provide support for the benefit of mankind.

Anutin said the Ministry of Public Health doesn’t focus on any particular institution with regards to vaccine development. The ministry has signed agreements with many institutions in this country and abroad. Covid-19 vaccine development is still underway.

Concerning reports that one institution had to halt its vaccine development project, he said the institution has now resumed the project. Obstacles are considered normal in vaccine development, and the Thai government is ready to support any type of vaccine development. If a Covid-19 vaccine is discovered in a programme operating with the Thai government’s support, it will be provided to the Thai people first.

Source: VNA