Sheryl

Flaming and bickering posts have been removed. Please keep it civil.

there is no "USA" (presumably: CDC ) guidance regarding Sinovac or AZ as neither is currently used in the US. Sinovac is not "useless". It is less efficacious than other vaccines.

As far as I know Pfizer is currently restricted in Thailand to people who have nto received any other vaccination. So I don't think you have a chance to get it now. For "mix and match" vaccine combos the usual guidance is to wait the designated time of the first vaccine. For Sinovac that would be 2-4 weeks.

The "law" people are referring to is an updating of hospital price guide issued by the MoPH. This guidance (not a "law") does indeed give a different price level for foreigners. However, it is widely ignored and the highest rates in it are less than most hospitals charge eve to Thais (if paying out of pocket). So pretty much a non issue and nothing chganged in most hospitas after it came out. Most government hospitals do not charge foreigners more simply because it would be more trouble than it would be worth to them to set up a seperate price structure. Notable exceptions are government hospitals in locations where they see many foreigners (Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai etc). These often do have a different, higher tariff for foreigners though usually still much lower than private hospitals.

There is no preferred insurance company. Doesn't even have to be a Thai company. The only thing I had to pay for upfront was a 5,000 baht deposit for my ASQ package.

Bear in mind that entering right now, you will have to quarantine for 14-15 days at your own expense in an approved facility. This alone will cost you at least $1k, upfront. Border runs are not possible at present time due to COVID restrictions and in any case would be chancy - back when they were possible, people sometimes got hassled or refused if pattern of entry suggested they were living in Thailand long term. Best options are either a work visa (for employment with a a company - there is no way to get this being a self employed digital nomad) or education visa.

You will still need multiple photocopies. Retirement extension is only slightly less hassle than marriage extension and, in addition to having a higher financial requirement, there are restrictions on spending the money. Unless you can easily afford to put 800K aside and not touch it (which does not sound to be the case) you are better off IMO sticking with marriage extension.

No problem to get in and no forwarding ticket required assuming you have a re-entry permit. You will have to quarantine (at your own expense) in an approved facility for 14-15 days and will not be allowed out of your room for that duration. You need to get a COE, apply through https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/ (ignore link in post above as it is to an unofficial site) For COE you will need: 1 - proof of insurance that covers COVID in Thailand for at least $100k (if you have a general insurance policy you need a specific letter from the insurer to this effect, they will nto wade through a policy document to figure it out). 2 - proof of booking at an ASQ hotel (you do nto need this until the second stage, you can do the pre-approval without it). Payment of just the initial deposit will suffice with many hotels to get the needed booking confirmation. 3 - uploadable picture of passport face page and re-entry permit page 4 - copy of airticket (also not until the COE confirmation phase) I just did all this myself (also with re-entry permit based on extension of stay for retirement). In my case it was extremely easy but if you have to use the LA Consulate there are reports that they take a long time/may be less efficient thank others. (I used NY Consulate)

What he describes is NOT GERD. GERD is reflux of stomach fluids into the throat. He has food getting stuck on the way down. it is likely due to either: 1) A growth in the pharynx, esophagus or stomach 2) Development of a sac (pouch) in the esophagus 3) Simple aging Of these 3, the first 2 (and especially the first) warrant treatment OP while it is true that government hospitals are pretty overwhelmed and deferring non-emergency care, most private hospitals still function pretty normally and in fact are less crowded than usual. If you can afford it, consider consulting a GI specialist at one. Endoscopy in a private hospital will cost around 15-25k depending in hospital.

One or two very popular tertiary level government hospitals have this (e.g. Siriraj) - but it is nowhere near 80%. More like 25%.

You really, really need to stop delaying or you will lose your eyesight and travel delays will be the least of your problem - assuming that it is in fact retinal detachment.

They still do emergency surgery during COVID. Go to tje nearest Malaysian ER.

This is not an elective orocedure. It is energency surgery.

Why not get it treated in Malaysia? Very good health care there. This really should not wait.

No particular advantage to doing that IMO. Both are inactvated virus vaccines. Both have comparatively low efficicacy (and very low against Delta).

Where are you now?

I'm in New York right now so it's daytime for me! ????

BCCT arranged immunization appts for my 2 Cambodian house staff. Any foreigner. They are being inundated with inqueries. Not new guidance on contacting them: BCCT VACCINATION COMMUNICATIONSUPDATES - due to the overwhelming number of emails and phone calls, the BCCT team can no longer respond to those already registered who are asking for updates for themselves or family members or friends. The process of designating a hospital/vaccination centre and dates for vaccination does not rest with BCCT. Therefore, please be patient.REGISTRATION - please register at this link - https://members.bccthai.com/connect. Please take care to enter all required fields and enter your data correctly. Errors may not be spotted by our system and may lead to rejection by those who issue vaccines. Many hundreds of people have already entered information correctly.TELEPHONE CALLS - please do not call BCCT staff. Emails sent to - [email protected]; [email protected]; and [email protected] - will be answered provided that they are not update requests.

Physical Therapy

Opening up plan (which has nto been mentioned in quite a while...) did not include requirement for vaccination Announcements like these are more often than not staged Could be the govt paving the way for not opening up in October as previously discussed

If D-dimer was also negative this along with negative ultrasound pretty well excludes DVT. In which case PT may be the answer.

Many people have done this, including me. You need a letter from the insurance company stating that COVID is covered, in Thailand, for at least 100K. the issue will be getting this from a US insurer. For my insurer (based in France) it was the standard one page insurance certifcate with the following added at the bottom: "MEDICAL EXPENSES - COVID-19 COVERAGE Hospitalisation costs covered at 100% of usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) costs, with a minimum of USD100,000. Treatment for medically-necessary services related to COVID-19 are covered according to the benefits schedule, as any other medical condition."

DVT is a blood clot. While ultrasound will usually show it, sometimes it does not and further tests e.g. venogram or MRI is necessary. See https://www.stoptheclot.org/learn_more/signs-and-symptoms-of-blood-clots/how_dvt_is_diagnosed/ The other possibility is that this is all due to tightening of tendons and muscle atrophy while the leg was immobilized. However the treatment for that (stretching exercises and maybe physical therapy) would be contraindicated if a DVT is present as it could dislodge the clot. So it is important to exclude DVT first. Did they do a d-dimer test? (blood test)

When was it done relative to this pain?

There are no booster recommendations in Thailand yet but likely will be. CDC recommendations re booster will be out soon (i.e in next month or two) and will probably recommend a booster 8 months after initial series. Which is about how soon Moderna ordered now from a private hospital will be available. Currently you have to pay in advance for 2 doses of Moderna even though booster, once recommended, will likely be just 1 dose. If you do not mind doing that, I would go ahead. Having the booster be Moderna when the original vax was AZ is no problem, in fact good. This is what I have done for myself and my household staff (purchase Moderna with intent of it being a booster). The website of the hospital I used for the Modera purchase (MedPark) says "Currently, studies are being conducted in USA and UK regarding MODERNA as the 3rd and the 2nd shot, and in heterologous and homologous vaccination. The studies could take 1 year, starting from June 2021. Updates will be provided as results emerge, but it is currently not a standardized recommendation to use Moderna as a booster or in a heterologous vaccination. Therefore, MedPark will only have the primary series of the Moderna vaccine available, according to the manufacturer’s standards. If there are any updates, you will be notified." I am counting in there either being guidance for booster dose in place by the time it arrives OR the hospital not enforcing the "primary series" requirement (i.e. not checking database for prior vaccination and refusing people shown as already vaccinated. For free vaccines that does happen but I am betting that a private hospitals with paid for vaccine, will not.) This it is a gamble and no guarantee. If the AZ appointment for next week is sure then I would ditch the Sinovac appointment and let her get the 2 AZ, that'sd a no brainer. You could then plan on Moderna booster in 8 months (understanding you will meanwhile have to pay for 2 doses and that there is a small chance of being refused at that time altogether).