Embassy of India
Bangkok

PRESS RELEASE

VACCINE HAND OVER TO THAILAND UNDER QUAD VACCINE PARTNERSHIP

Under the Quad’s flagship Vaccine Partnership, a consignment of 200,000 doses of Made in India, Covovax vaccines was presented to H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health of Thailand on 21 April 2022 in Bangkok. The handing-over of the vaccines was done jointly by the Ambassador of India, H.E. Ms. Suchitra Durai, Ambassador of Australia, H.E. Mr. Allan McKinnon, Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr. Nashida Kazuya and the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States of America, H.E. Mr. James Wayman. This is the second consignment of vaccines delivered by India under the Quad Vaccine Partnership, after the inaugural delivery to Cambodia took place on 12 April 2022. The supply of vaccines fulfills the commitment made by India’s Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, at the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC in September 2021 to donate 500,000 doses of COVID vaccines to countries in the Indo-Pacific region under the Quad Vaccine Partnership.

The Quad Vaccine Partnership was announced by the Quad Leaders at their first Summit on 12 March 2021 to leverage the Quad’s collective strength to ensure equitable access to safe, effective and quality-assured vaccines.

Quad countries have so far provided Thailand with four and a half million COVID-19 vaccine doses. Quad countries have also provided last mile delivery assistance and monetary support to ensure that vaccines are translated into vaccinations. Australia is supporting Thailand to deliver vaccines safely and effectively to its population, including through strengthening data systems and developing communication strategies with a focus on migrant populations. India extended support to Thailand in augmenting its capabilities to fight the pandemic by providing oxygen concentrators and essential medicines. Japan has provided oxygen concentrators and high-quality equipment for vaccine storage and transport through ‘Last One Mile Support’. The US has provided assistance with surveillance and contact tracing, case investigation, training health care workers and data management.

The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand has conveyed its appreciation for the vaccines received from the Quad and for its collective assistance to Thailand. Quad countries have assured Thailand about their desire to extend all possible support to combat the pandemic. H.E. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Health of Thailand, expressed gratitude for the generosity of the Quad countries and added that, given an opportunity, Thailand will not hesitate to reciprocate this generosity. He also mentioned that a friend in need is a friend in deed and that the Quad countries have proven that they are indeed Thailand’s friends.

21 April 2022
Bangkok

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