Chiang Mai Bill

10 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I really wish they would give details of exactly where these international tourists will be coming from.

 

 

" . . . a revival of tourism activities will start first with domestic tourists before the country’s reopening for international visitors in the future."

"To make this ambition possible, the city has launched a vaccination drive for businesses owners and workers on the island, with about 70% of them now vaccinated."

Err, ahem . . . what about the "others"?  I'm sure it's just bad reporting but there are "others" that aren't "business owners and workers" -- ex-pats, spouses of workers, and, of course, the "others" that don't pay taxes or are officially employed!

1 minute ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Pfizer Thailand submitted an application for the domestic use of its Covid-19 vaccine to the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) according to a report in the Bangkok Post on 12th June (2021).   That would put the approval time at 13 days.    How much quicker would you expect it to be?

Perhaps they could have started . . . sooner?

19 hours ago, asiacurious said:

There is a BIG difference between saying 95% of people developing an immune response and saying what the headline says, "Two doses of Sinovac can stop spread of COVID-19".  The latter simply isn't supported by ANY evidence, including the "evidence" in this so-called study.

 

The article starts with this (hopefully true) great news...

 

 

And then falls off the rails as the sentence continues...

 

 

No, no, no, no, no.   An immune response on a petri dish does NOT mean a vaccinated person can't still catch the virus and transmit it to others!

 

The sentence concludes by attributing the claim...

 

 

Well, we don't have a link to any data. 

 

Well, there are no links to the study's findings and no links to any data.  We don't know how or what they actually tested.  We don't know anything about the study except for what the author of this piece wrote.  And the article doesn't even have an author named, so there's no way to find out if the author even has a basic understanding of the science.

 

Basically the article is worthless, though the study may not be.  We just don't know what the study actually says.

 

If anyone finds a link to it, I hope you'll post it here.  

Also how many volunteers? 

"The National Vaccine Institute said that 186 volunteers . . . the result shows that more than 70% of the 171 volunteers . . ." 

That 70% had developed an immune response strong enough to prevent the spread of the virus in laboratory tests means that 30% didn't and could spread the virus?

I wonder when these tests were conducted -- surely prior to the Indian Delta variation -- and the recently discovered Delta-plus variation which is even more highly transmisable!

Anyway, 30% can possibly still transmit the virus!

25 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Thailand's FDA has to approve the vaccine in exactly the same way that the US's FDA has to approve it for use there.   What's the difference?

The length of time Thailand took to test and then approve it! That's the difference!

5 minutes ago, peter48 said:

The Pfizer vaccine is the vaccine of choice and has the highest reputation in UK, US, Europe. It comes from the geniuses at Biontech in Germany is manufactured by American  Pfizer. it achieves circa 98% efficacy after two doses. It is a marvel of modern life sciences and its inventor Ugur Sahin originally a Turkish migrant into Germany and his wife too  deserve to be saints. it is the first choice for everyone especially over 55s and under 30s as it carries no troubling side effects. I got it like all seniors in UK and my 18 yr. old got it last Saturday. Free here in UK. But in Thailand it worth paying for and I am sure its the one those who can have had. It should be rolled out to all adults. 

The majority of seniors in the UK got the AZ -- NOT the Pfizer!

16 hours ago, Caldera said:

Is Thailand the last country on Earth that has approved the Pfizer vaccine? I don't know, but it sure feels like that!

Whether or not it was the last place -- it certainly is one of the last places! (It is hard to imagine any third-world country taking so long!)

That's the problems with countries like Thailand with such very high and advanced technical standards -- Thai experts will have been rigorously testing, testing, testing the Pfizer vaccines -- as is their want!

Now, I wonder how long it will take to order some and get stocks delivered -- perhaps each batch will also have to be tested thoroughly too!

3 hours ago, nightfox said:

What he is really saying is that we don't want to get caught with our pants down again so we will keep things the same as they are.

Well, if they continue to adopt the current policy of leaving the country -- oh, sorry "Bangkok" as it's only really Bangkok that matters -- "open", their pants will end up by their ankles!

The problem with military regimes is that power is controlled by those with a military training and they have little knowledge of commerce or running a country! However, they are not beholden to the people -- or common sense -- as they are the ones in power and the public can do little about it!

So:

"locking down Bangkok could cause more harm than good". Highly contentious as in the "wide world" lockdown has proven to be very effective against the spread of the virus -- However, it is financially destructive and governments have to spend a lot of money in supporting the people and economy! [I thought Thailand was a wealthy country that has vast amounts of money to throw it at Chinese submarines, new transport projects, etc.?]

He wants to avoid another mass exodus to the provinces ["that caused such a debacle at Songkran"]. Yes, a good idea -- but too late now!

"Isolating people in certain zones in Bangkok would be a better strategy"!  Mmmmm,  except in the "land of corruption" and with people living in dire poverty "escapees" would venture out unless these areas allow no one in or out and is surrounded by barbed wire and armed "protectors"! Doesn't seem practical to me!

Anyway, it's been rejected so its "carry on as normal" and "things" will go away, eventually (they hope)!

21 hours ago, overt2016 said:

At last someone with sense!!!!

Not sure about that! Although he is a "specialist" within the respiratory disease and tuberculosis areas -- and the virus affects the respiratory system -- and he will also have a ''degree'' of knowledge in virology -- he is obviously not keeping up with the data in the "wide world" outside the LoS!

1.  By suggesting that the one-week lockdown would be purely for Bangkok he ignores many of the cases "outside" the capital! (But perhaps he was misquoted and instead of Bangkok he meant the whole country?)

2.  "One week" is a totally inadequate time to curtail the spread of this virus! The incubation period can be more than a week, the initial symptoms of the virus can take almost a week -- and much of the Thai public are, not unkindly, naive, poorly educated, and many are suffering financially and given the chance to earn some money will break the lockdown and, possibly, continue to spread the virus.

It is a great shame that such a large (and previously wealthy) country is led by politicians who proved incapable of making the necessary pandemic decisions during 2020 -- when they ignored what was happening outside their country; they have ignored their people medically and financially assuming that the virus wouldn't come to Thailand -- after (perhaps) taking the advice of "medical specialists" who maintain -- even now -- that the virus can be contained if the "capital" is locked down for "one week"!

What a great shame -- for the people of Thailand!

21 hours ago, overt2016 said:

At last someone with sense!!!!

21 minutes ago, placeholder said:

I guess the UK Public Health Services can exclusively reference your family for any and all future pandemics. That should translate into huge savings of public expenditures.

Yes, I too am enormously relieved to read WineHo's illuminating comments! In fact the whole world -- especially those in India and Brazil -- and the relatives of the 3,900,000 who have died throughout the world from WineHo's "light case of flue" will be . . . consoled to hear his views!

I expect officials from the WHO and major medical publications will already be approaching him for his -- and his family's -- 'experience'!

4 hours ago, Phuketshrew said:

Pre covid-19 I seem to remember reading that Thailand's economy was not dependent upon the tourist dollar. What seems to have changed?

Reality?

I remember, 17 years ago when I first settled in Thailand, a Government minister stating that tourism only contributed an insignificant 10-12%  towards the Thai GDP. At the time I considered it a stupid comment as it seemed pretty significant to me!

Of course, the figures quoted are "official" income figures and have never contained the "unofficial and undeclared" money generated by tourists. Tourists are wary of using credit cards in many venues -- and many Thais only want to be paid in cash -- and of course the majority is declared for tax purposes!

Thai ministers are far too naive, poorly educated, and inexperienced to run an economy and have only managed to do so due to the poorly educated masses and military 'might'!

6 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Personally I blame AZ for the issues surrounding the supply of their vaccine to SE Asia.

 

they are the people who chose Thailand as their SE Asia manufacturing hub. Would they have got similar issues had they chosen Singapore? We will never know, but I suspect not. They may have been given a later start date, but it would have been one that would have been met.

 

but instead they chose what was almost certainly a cheaper option. Meantime large parts of the world economy are mothballed. Penny wise and pound foolish is the saying that comes to mind.

 

I mean, you have a vaccine that is vital to get the world economy on its feet and lives saved, surely you go for certainty, not cheap production?

 

as it is, Thailand is doing what it is renowned for, smiling and deflecting blame. You get what you pay for AZ.

Did A-Z chose Thailand's Siam Bioscience to manufacture the drug -- OR did the Thai government apply to A-Z for Siam Bioscience to manufacture the drug under licence?

I think you will find that it was the latter!

The UK Government declared that the Oxford-AZ vaccine could be produced and distributed at cost by 'other' countries. 

6 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

Personally I blame AZ for the issues surrounding the supply of their vaccine to SE Asia.

 

they are the people who chose Thailand as their SE Asia manufacturing hub. Would they have got similar issues had they chosen Singapore? We will never know, but I suspect not. They may have been given a later start date, but it would have been one that would have been met.

 

but instead they chose what was almost certainly a cheaper option. Meantime large parts of the world economy are mothballed. Penny wise and pound foolish is the saying that comes to mind.

 

I mean, you have a vaccine that is vital to get the world economy on its feet and lives saved, surely you go for certainty, not cheap production?

 

as it is, Thailand is doing what it is renowned for, smiling and deflecting blame. You get what you pay for AZ.

Did A-Z chose Thailand's Siam Bioscience to manufacture the drug -- OR did the Thai government apply to A-Z for Siam Bioscience to manufacture the drug under licence?

I think you will find that it was the latter!

The UK Government declared that the Oxford-AZ vaccine could be produced and distributed at cost by 'other' countries. 

6 hours ago, mikebell said:

Which vaccine?

"It was an initial payment to help the family. If it was proven that he had not died as a result of having the vaccine the family would not need to return the money"

So it is not certain that having the vaccine was the cause of his death!

So much "false news" going around in Thailand now! People dying of heart-attacks, people wasting away, etc. -- and all supposedly because of the vaccine! Many Thais are gullible enough to believe these stories -- and the greater number that do not have the vaccine means the greater numbers of cases and deaths and the prolonging of the pandemic!

On 5/27/2021 at 6:53 AM, ukrules said:

Well this is good news.

Yes, good news. 

I now hope we will not see the AZ vaccine being sold by private medical organizations for a profit -- the UK government stipulated that the AZ vaccine will be sold at cost!

3 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

Weird. Picture looks like the guy's playing cards with money. Let's hope it's not a subliminal message to casino operators and others in need of money laundering opportunities that Thailand's open for business.

 

Now would any wealthy Russians or Chinese do that!!!

I wonder what "an informal border crossing" is?

No army/police/barriers/immigration officers? Surely not!

20 hours ago, BestB said:

What on earth are you going on about? Being locked up in a hotel for 14 days is not persons choice but government decision 

What on earth are YOU on about? The discussion was on whether countries should look after their citizens when abroad and what level of ''service'' should be automatically provided!

Nothing has been mentioned about quarantine!  Since the epidemic countries have introduced regulations for travellers -- and again, it is personal choice should anyone chose to travel to a country that has imposed restrictions! Only an idiot would travel and not expect to follow any restrictions and regulations!

I assume that politicians, high-ranking army and police, and the financially influential will obviously fall into category 2:

2 Thais working in Covid prevention areas

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

It is actually a bit impressive that this is happening. 

Should I email the British Embassy and ask them  when and where I will get mine?

 

Yes, haven't the Chinese done well!  I wouldn't bother to email the British Embassy though -- the UK has enough "virus" problems at home without looking after UK citizens in Thailand -- and probably they would start with their citizens in Spain and France where, no doubt, there are much greater numbers of ex-pats living!

The Chinese have much greater resources than the UK -- did you know, it's a much bigger country than China? Did you also know it has a much larger GDP?

I'm a little surprised that the Chinese are doing this -- in view of the numbers of coronavirus cases in the north and north-east of China -- but perhaps their capacity to manufacture so much sinovac enables them to cope with them also.

Of course, it's all done for the "right" reasons and nothing is about political and economic encroachment/influence within the l.o.s.!

And yes, they also did very well with coronavirus -- it now has spread "from China" to the rest of the world causing countless deaths (in India they aren't bothering to count the dead any more, probably also Brazil), debilitating illness, unemployment, and great financial disorder!  "Surprisingly", the Chinese GDP is doing well!

What ridiculous nonsense! The reason for vaccinating is:

1. To protect lives.

2. To stop the spread of the virus.

It is arguable which is the ''main'' priority. To delay non-Thais' vaccination is most illogical.

Not sure what all ''Western'' countries are doing but certainly in the UK ''people'' get vaccinated regardless of race -- even illegal immigrants (allegedly) -- when their age group gets ''called up'' they line up and get it -- hence the numbers of cases, hospitalization, and deaths have dropped unbelievably: 37,000,000 have had their first dose; over 20,000,000 their second dose.