Thailand, US cooperate in HIV, COVID-19 vaccine development. (Photo: pattayamail.com)Bangkok (NNT/VNA) – Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health MinisterAnutin Charnvirakul and US Ambassador to Thailand Michael George DeSombre haveagreed to strengthen cooperation between the two nations in COVID-19 vaccinedevelopment in Thailand.
The minister says the Thai government is ready to support vaccine developmentby any institution, so that local people will have access to vaccines once theyare developed.
Anutin and DeSombre observed vaccine research and development at the ArmedForces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS), and followed up onprogress of the HIV and COVID-19 vaccine development programmes, jointlyconducted by Thailand and the US.
The Thai official said the visit underlined the cooperation between the twocountries in developing vaccines against dengue fever, malaria, acquired immunedeficiency syndrome (AIDS), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as well asCOVID-19.
The two nations also agreed to build a laboratory animal centre to testexperimental vaccines. If the AFRIMS need assistance or support, the Ministryof Public Health has allocated funds for COVID-19 vaccine research. Theministry is ready to provide support for the benefit of mankind.
Anutin said the Ministry of Public Health doesn’t focus on any particularinstitution with regards to vaccine development. The ministry has signedagreements with many institutions in this country and abroad. COVID-19 vaccinedevelopment is still underway.
Concerning reports that one institution had to halt its vaccine developmentproject, he said the institution has now resumed the project. Obstacles areconsidered normal in vaccine development, and the Thai government is ready tosupport any type of vaccine development. If a COVID-19 vaccine is discovered ina programme operating with the Thai government’s support, it will be providedto the Thai people first./.
VNA
