Russia will supply an unspecified number of Sputnik V vaccines to Thailand as the third wave of pandemic shows no sign of slowing.
Days after Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha said they were negotiating to acquire millions of Pfizer-made doses, one of his spokesmen said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was willing to supply the Russian-made Sputnik to boost bilateral ties, which have warmed under the military-backed government.
Sputnik V is reportedly over 90% effective, which if true would place it in the same category as those made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. It requires two doses for inoculation with a single-dose version under development.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said this morning that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines are expected by the end of year. He said they will try to accelerate the process.
Mass vaccination won’t get underway until June when the royally owned Siam Bioscience produces its first batch AstraZeneca doses.
Thailand today reported 1,470 new cases, 446 of which were found in Bangkok. They also announced a record-breaking seven deaths, raising the toll to 117.
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