The prime minister today sought to dispel reports that the European maker of Thailand’s vaccine supply was having second thoughts, insisting its rollout would go forward as planned.
Indirectly dismissing reports that AstraZeneca was worried about being dragged into Thai politics, Prayuth Chan-o-cha said that the firm had settled on Siam Bioscience, a biotech firm under palace control at the center of growing controversy, after surveying potential domestic manufacturers and finding it had the highest standards.
Prayuth asked critics of the deal – a related protest was staged just today – to stop linking the firm with the monarchy, despite the fact it is owned by the Crown Property Bureau.
AstraZeneca, which reportedly backed out of a Friday news conference due to its growing reservations, has not responded to messages left with its offices in Bangkok and…
