Thailand defends decision for not joining COVID-19 vaccine alliance

    1. The Thai government on Sunday (Feb 14) defended its decision not to join the World Health Organization-sponsored coronavirus vaccine programme COVAX, saying that to do so would risk the country paying more for the shots and facing uncertainty about delivery times.
    2. The government has been criticised by opposition politicians and protesters for lacking transparency and being too slow in procuring vaccines. While the country of 66 million people has had low numbers of cases and deaths, it is dealing with a second wave of infections.
    3. Frontline health workers are to begin receiving 2 million imported Chinese Sinovac shots within a month, but mass vaccinations for the general population are not due to begin until locally produced AstraZeneca doses are ready in June.
    4. Thailand reported 166 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, taking its total number of infections to 24,571, with a death toll of 80.
    5. In all, 190 countries have joined COVAX, which aims to ensure equitable access to vaccines during the pandemic. The scheme is jointly run by the GAVI alliance, the WHO, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and UNICEF.

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