‘Angel jab’ for ‘devil virus’?

The development of an effective vaccine to halt the ongoing devastating human and economic toll seen around the world from the novel coronavirus that emerged in China last year would hold out hope against this deadly “devil virus”. Thailand’s medical expertise means it is well placed in current efforts to develop such a coronavirus vaccine. The kingdom’s scientists are developing their versions, and if they succeed in making the jab affordable, the benefits to public health would be enormous.

Mahidol University, the National Science and Technology Development Agency and Bionet Asia are local institutions developing their own versions of a vaccine. At least two have been tested on monkeys and mice, and Mahidol University’s vaccine candidate is expected to begin clinical trials by November.

Timing and vaccine affordability are key. Chulalongkorn University is already aiming to make its version of an affordable vaccine.

Kiat Ruxrungtham, director of the Centre of Excellence in Vaccine Research and Development at Chulalongkorn University, last week told CU Radio it is aiming to produce two million mRNA vaccines at 1,000 baht per dose (about US$30).

But 1,000 baht is lot of money for poor people. Making a vaccine as cheap as possible in Thailand should therefore be the priority, perhaps via some form of state subsidy or the 30-baht healthcare scheme. The country’s poor, whose living conditions are crowded while most have to use public transport, are most at risk of catching the virus as social distancing is so difficult for them.

More than 140 vaccines are reportedly being developed globally with about a dozen already entering their clinical trial stages. Vaccines being developed in the United States, China, Russia, Germany and the United Kingdom are expected to be mass-produced next year.

In the region, Thailand is not the only country in the running to develop a vaccine for the virus that has battered the global economy. Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia are all striving to have their versions of a coronavirus jab made available to the public next year.

This vaccine race presents the kingdom with a unique opportunity to compete with its regional and global counterparts to be the first country to develop one. If Thailand succeeds, its public health sector would benefit from huge improvements and prestige.

Thailand frequently boasts that its medical sector is one of the best in the world, and its sophisticated healthcare system, universal healthcare coverage and robust public health consciousness have undoubtedly contributed to the country’s success in locally containing the pandemic.

Because of these factors, Thailand looks set to be among the first countries in Asean to continue to efficiently address the public health crisis posed by Covid19 and get its economy going again. An effective vaccine would also make Thailand an attractive destination once again for foreign tourists.

Thailand has been free of local transmission of the coronavirus for more than a month. While the Thai people should certainly not let their guard down, its citizens should be proud of the achievement of containing the virus, particularly given the horrendous infection rates and death tolls seen in other countries.

If a local “angel vaccine” for the “devil virus” can be produced affordably, including for the poor, Thailand would be able to resume its journey toward becoming free of Covid-19 while radiating prestige across the region and the world.