On 29 July 2021, Mr. Evan Jones, Chargé d’affaires, together with H.E. Mr. Mark Gooding, Ambassador-Designate of the United Kingdom to Thailand delivered a Note Verbale to H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, stating that the Government of the United Kingdom will grant 415,040 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to Thailand, as part of UK’s assistance to friends in the region who are facing challenges in the vaccine roll-out.
This success highlights Thailand’s proactive vaccine diplomacy with its strategic partners and close allies, an initiative led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The said vaccine grant by the Government of the United Kingdom will help alleviate the COVID-19 situation in Thailand, which reflects close strategic partnership between Thailand and the United Kingdom as well as the United Kingdom’s unwavering commitment and longstanding cooperation to building a cordial relationship with Thailand in various area of mutual interest, especially in public health.
The Memorandum of Understanding and Tripartite Agreement for the said grant were signed by the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, as the competent authority, together with the British Embassy as well as AstraZeneca on 26 July 2021. The relevant agencies of Thailand and the United Kingdom are closely coordinating to ensure a timely delivery of the vaccines, which is scheduled to arrive in Thailand in early August 2021.