The Prime Minister presided over the handover ceremony of 1,503,450 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from the Government of the United States. The Prime Minister also addressed his appreciation for the sharing which reflects Thailand-US close and longstanding relations and looked forward to have further cooperation on vaccines with US.

On 2 August 2021 at 09.00 hrs., H.E. General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, presided over a handover of 1,503,450 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines from the Government of the United States of America at the Government House. Mr. Michael Heath, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Thailand, represented the U.S. Government in the ceremony. Also present were H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health; Mr. Disatat Hotrakit, Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office; and Mr. Witchu Vejjajiva, Director-General of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Government and President Biden for the vaccine sharing, which would be especially helpful to Thailand, and reflected the close and longstanding spirit of friendship dating back over 188 years as well as the close cooperation in all dimensions between the two countries. He also thanked all relevant agencies for their coordination leading to this successful vaccine delivery, and expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Government for the care of Thai nationals in the country. The Prime Minister further extended his thanks to U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth who recently announced the additional vaccine contribution to Thailand, and lastly, he reiterated his hope that the U.S. would continue its vaccine cooperation with Thailand.

The Chargé d’Affaires was pleased that the delivery of the vaccines from the U.S. arrived in Thailand and proud to take part in supporting Thailand’s COVID-19 response. The vaccine sharing underscored the close and longstanding Thailand – U.S. public health cooperation over the past 60 years. He expressed the U.S.’ intention to promptly deliver additional 1 million doses of vaccine to Thailand and to support the economic recovery through enhancing the U.S. private sector’s trade and investment in Thailand. The Chargé d’Affaires thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Health for their efforts in taking care of foreign nationals, including Americans, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With regards to the recent announcement made by the U.S. Embassy in Thailand on the allocation of additional 1 million doses, totaling to 2.5 million doses of vaccine sharing from the U.S. Government to Thailand, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is coordinating closely with the U.S. Government, and is working with relevant agencies to ensure vaccine delivery at the earliest opportunity.