Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a statement via video conference at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Ministerial Meeting on “A Vaccine for All, highlighting the issue of inequitable access to COVID-19 vaccines at the international level, and proposed linking discussions on promoting vaccine equity to economic and social recovery and development.

On 16 April 2021, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, delivered a pre-recorded video statement at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Special Ministerial Meeting on “A Vaccine for All.”

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasised the importance of collective efforts to address the issue of inequitable access to COVID-19 vaccines at the international level, and proposed the following 3 actions: First, the international community must improve global vaccine manufacturing and distribution capacities. Thailand can support these efforts by serving as a location for vaccine production for the region while also contributing our home-grown vaccines currently under development to foster international efforts; Second, we must turn crisis into opportunity by advancing Universal Health Coverage to achieve the SDGs; and Third, we must support coordination between the WHO, ECOSOC and the UNGA to link discussions on promoting vaccine equity to economic and social recovery and development.