Developers of Thai mRNA vaccine call for government financing

[Thaiger]

The developers of Thailand’s mRNA Covid-19 vaccine say they need the government to finance the project and relax regulations that would prevent a timely rollout. According to a Bangkok Post report, Dr Kiat Ruxrungtham who heads up the team working on the vaccine, says he’d like to see the vaccine administered before Songkran 2022. The Chula-VAC001 is being developed by a research team at the Faculty of Medicine at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University and has so far showed encouraging results from the first phase of human trials. The Bangkok Post reports that half of the 72 volunteers, aged between 18 and […]

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[JohnJ-CM]

This seems like a “no brainer” decision, as they say.

[Malc-Thai]

I did read on another news site, they will be looking at producing 30 million vaccines in a year! That's 2.5 million a month.. less than the so called contract with AstraZeneca.. if they said 30 million a month then they would have no problems getting an investor! 

[9S_]

Will they pay? One reason for not joining Covax was because the government didn’t want to pay for vaccines

Edited August 17, 2021 by 9S_
Typo

[King Cotton]

11 minutes ago, 9S_ said:

Will they pay? One reason for not joining Covax was because the government didn’t want to pay for vaccines

Didn't want to pay? . . . Couldn't pay, more like.

[Donald]

The government rather spent the money on submarines and the space program.

[AdamX]

1 hour ago, Thaiger said:

The developers of Thailand’s mRNA Covid-19 vaccine say they need the government to finance the project and relax regulations that would prevent a timely rollout. According to a Bangkok Post report, Dr Kiat Ruxrungtham who heads up the team working on the vaccine, says he’d like to see the vaccine administered before Songkran 2022. The Chula-VAC001 is being developed by a research team at the Faculty of Medicine at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University and has so far showed encouraging results from the first phase of human trials. The Bangkok Post reports that half of the 72 volunteers, aged between 18 and […]

The post Developers of Thai mRNA vaccine call for government financing appeared first on Thaiger News.

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Given that some estimates say that 50% of the population already is infected–albeit with mild to zero symptoms and now have natural immunity–its makes no sense to develop yet another vaccine, which, if existing vaccines are anything to go by, will not prevent transmission or reinfection.

Follow the money

[Bob20]

If you want to know whether you are pregnant, you buy an existing pregnancy test. You don't develop a new test and have it available "maybe" next year when the baby has arrived already. 

For the same reason you use the money to buy existing mRNA vaccines NOW to save people that will otherwise be DEAD by next year and you don't poor money into development to reinvent the wheel.

Besides: by next year Pfizer and Moderna will be on version 2 or 3 of the vaccine because their development continues too. And they have been used 100's of millions of times with huge experience. Any startup will always be behind the curve.

And on a scientific note: with only 38 test subjects they can not scientifically claim statistically significant 94% efficacy. Any statistician will tell you that is impossible.

 

[King Cotton]

43 minutes ago, Bob20 said:

If you want to know whether you are pregnant, you buy an existing pregnancy test. You don't develop a new test and have it available "maybe" next year when the baby has arrived already. 

For the same reason you use the money to buy existing mRNA vaccines NOW to save people that will otherwise be DEAD by next year and you don't poor money into development to reinvent the wheel.

Besides: by next year Pfizer and Moderna will be on version 2 or 3 of the vaccine because their development continues too. And they have been used 100's of millions of times with huge experience. Any startup will always be behind the curve.

And on a scientific note: with only 38 test subjects they can not scientifically claim statistically significant 94% efficacy. Any statistician will tell you that is impossible.

Some solid views, there and an excellent debut post, too . . . thanks for that!

Hello, Bob20 and welcome to Thaiger Talk

Please feel free to tell us a bit about yourself in 'Introductions'. It's good to pick-up on those sometimes differing regional or geographical perspectives.

And check-out the Guidelines, too, when you get a free minute. They're there to help us all enjoy our time here.

Happy posting

King Cotton

 

[Jason]

I think any development in response to this virus is a good thing. I also think having vaccines that can be produced locally is a good thing. Relying on overseas companies to provide vaccines is not reliable. 

[Bob20]

16 minutes ago, Jason said:

I think any development in response to this virus is a good thing. I also think having vaccines that can be produced locally is a good thing. Relying on overseas companies to provide vaccines is not reliable. 

Yes, but not if it involves taxpayers money, while that money can and should be used for vaccines to save lives -today-. Also, I'd take medication from a reputable proven western company with means and funds for research and development any day over something concocted locally and requiring subsidy or loan from the Thai government.