Thai health workers fear ‘VVIPs’ diverting US-donated Pfizer vaccines

Dozens gathered at the U.S. embassy in Bangkok this morning to ask for details about the distribution of 1.54 million donated Pfizer vaccines amid fear they will be funneled away from those most in need.

Several medical professionals delivered a petition at about 10:30am to the embassy on Wireless Road. Addressed to Charge d’Affaires Michael Heath, it asked the embassy to help probe the issue and clarify how many vaccines will be distributed to which groups after Thai officials cut the allotment for medical workers without explanation.

“What we haven’t seen yet are official documents or a clear number of how many medics will get the vaccines,” Nut Siriratboonkajorn, medic and group spokesperson, said. “Therefore, I would like to have more clarity on this part, so that no personnel on the front line is left behind.”

The group – consisting of medical…