the green light

In the Bangkok post - Reported 

"Many expats in Thailand have been finding it difficult to register for shots, even if they are over age 60 or in high-risk groups. The online registration systems for both Thais and foreigners have been generally non-functional."

It has been the same problem all along. Many expat lives in different part of Thailand.  These Embassy must use a direct path and let their citizen register at the private hospital-- like what the  French did. 

I like what the French embassy did to their citizen by going directly to private hospital and bring the J&J directly... One shot and you are done...

The AZ is a pain because you still need to go back and get the 2nd shot.. One shot does not give you enough protection.... May be the2nd shot will probably be an MRNA

From © 2021 The New York Times Company

"The 160 million US people across the country who are fully vaccinated are largely protected from the virus, including the highly contagious delta variant.

But the picture is different in pockets of the country where residents are vaccinated at lower rates. Hot spots have emerged leaving hospital workers strained as they care for an influx of coronavirus patients "

The US with 50% of population vaccinated .. the epidemic is not resolved yet.

Sound familiar for thailand to notice ... NO vaccination  or use poor vaccine will increase the epidemic.

We need to compare the vaccination progress of SE Asia countries like Malaysia.

It was reported on Reuter that  "Malaysia's health ministry on Thursday said the country will stop administering the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China's Sinovac once its supplies end, as it has a sufficient number of other vaccines for its program" . let us focus on the word "sufficient"

the story in Thailand is people are now worry taking Sinovac.. then you hear there is a million here and  few million there of Moderna. That is not enough..

Conclusion:  

1. there is a shortage of vaccines for a while. 

2. It wont be free.. all has to pay for it..

3.all  has to wait till the end of the year or beginning of next year to get at least 40% of the population inoculated

4. forget opening up the country in 120 days.. it won't happened.

For Thai way of life and administration the J&J vaccines seemed to be the perfect solution.

Nobody will bother getting the 2nd dosage lining up in line again.- and fear that there is a shortage and not enough vaccines for all.

Good luck everyone

you read the US response to provide vaccination to their US citizen in Thailand.

I would  say a lot "fake news and boilers plate response"  to cover their action.

First of all, the US embassy in Bangkok barely barely tolerate to perform service to the Expat. They do not like them because it does not add any value to them. They cater well people working for large American companies.

I assuming that the  J &J vaccines was administered to special privileging  US citizen living in Thailand like  the diplomatic corps, and essential people working for large corporation. It will impossible to imagine that they let these people be part of the local vaccination system and let  them leave their job, fly them home - quite expensive to fly them home and back. all that for fear of being sued.

For the rest of the US Expat.. the State department is saying "who cares"

2 hours ago, Pravda said:

If I show up at the Embassy, strike a bit of conversation in Quebecois, will I get a vaccine? Solidarité and all that?

NO Canadian are not french

I guess that it required "smart and caring" from the French  government to care for it citizens in countries who took refuge as expat in SE ASIA. I believe that all French senior citizen has a great blanket health care program -  not like in America with all their plan A, B,  C and   D - all with a lot of $$$$

The US has never extended Senior benefits overseas even in time of emergency. It is situation that needs to considered and offered to its citizens living overseas. 

US can't be dependent on local government to administer the vaccines  for the expat. when themselves have problem with the program.

The situation right now in Thailand is that most  expat are retirees, and with some kind of a health problem...they made their home in Thailand. they can't leave or they can't returned easily.

Would it be easier for the US (or other countries)  to offer the same program as the French?

The news are from abroad saying it is a an epidemic in SE Asia :Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand. 

There are countries that have not rolled out their vaccination effectively : all in the 4% number in the vaccination progress.

Everyone in Thailand  know about the "Fake" news  that is being projected for "saving face" of some officials.

A lot of them are focusing on "space program", " tourism" . " how much to charge for the vaccines", and  " how to keep the price of the Baht high" instead on the safety and health of their own people.

The " happy days" are gone. this pandemic  have the tendency to bring changes in many government around the world.. just what happened to Trump.

It is quite hard to measure how much vaccines is available and how well the program is coming along.

Nobody is saying anything. But reading between the lines. There is a shortage of vaccines in Thailand. and it wont get better any time soon.

To inoculate the first dosage at 500k people per day.. you need 120 days.. and another 120 days for the 2nd dosage.. Adding the math together, To fully vaccinate the population , you need 8 month., assuming  that you have a good supply of vaccines.

From the information  provided.. it is very challenging.

Just now, the green light said:

may be they think that they can setup a lucrative a small restaurant  business in space selling somtam, kom mon Khai, and noodle soup., making billion , billion, billion Baht from the Chinese space tourists .

 

55555 to the program.. I am for it. Let us not forget to add an ATM machine. or a food card

may be they think that they can setup a lucrative a small restaurant  business in space selling somtam, kom mon Khai, and noodle soup., making billion , billion, billion Baht from the Chinese space tourists .

55555 to the program.. I am for it.

funny

new plans are being considered when old one are not resolved.

I guess they are getting bored of Covid19 or just "forget about it"

7 hours ago, BobinBKK said:

And 14 days of COVID-Jail  for everyone when "someone else" on your flight tests positive...

it happenned to a UAE plane. The rest of the passengers  decided to return home

8 hours ago, Dogmatix said:

Who would bring a dog to Thailand with so many unvaccinated soi dogs running around?

My understanding of the sandbox is to  provide a path for the tourists for not to be locked in the hotel room for 15 days. It allows the tourists to roam in the hotel grounds for 14 days , then they can visit the rest of Thailand.

if you use Phuket  as a holiday stay in the expensive "mother ship" hotels fully equipped with everything , then it fit the tourist plan.

One must not forget that Phuket still is not fully vaccinated with the 2 dosages yet. It is assumed that they got the sinovac vaccine.....so  the people staying in Phuket for 60 days should be worried. let us wait and see what is next.

8 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

I guess the question is WHOM was it a success for?

For the lie of the failures one

9 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Complacency.

Hubris.

Incompetent leaders. 

No vaccine ordering and stockpiling as a pre-emptive measure.

Too slow to implement local vaccine production.

Over-estimation and almost total reliance on local vaccine production. 

Failure to order any vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna or J&J.

Allowing Songkran to go ahead.

Porous borders.

Government ministers frequenting sex-clubs in Bangkok then running away and lying about it.

A lack of willpower to lockdown after Songkran when it was clear numbers were on the rise.

Stupidly allocating millions of vaccines to tourist islands instead of virus epicentres in order to implement a face-saving sandbox scheme which was doomed to abject failure.

 

Any more?

good feedback.

like I said , it depends how you look at the news.

1. some tourists are using the  Sandbox for short holiday 

2.others are trying to get back to Thailand 

It is not  a clear conclusion yet.

1.  the number of tourists arriving is not high to warrant that Thailand is opened now

2. of  course you stay in thailand in expensive hotels for 60 days, you will spend money 

it is not good news knowing that you can't leave Phuket until the country resolve the epidemic.

I really don't understand why the government is worrying about the loss of income for TAT and not focusing on the epidemic in Bangkok. Based on this article,  these expensive hotels in Phuket should spend these "great sum of money"  they collected on buying vaccines  for Thailand instead of beefing up their bank accounts.

^{what are all these numbers mean ....NOTHING ..."the sky is falling"}

^{the government will do what it pleases anyway....this data  is not going to shake the tree.}

^{In my opinion, the truth  was twisted for political an diplomatic reason focusing only on tourism  and on cheap vaccines. They have ignore data and vaccination progress of other countries and ignore statistic  data of vaccine efficiency nor ordered US vaccines in time for a backup plan..  Public remarks made by some official as  blaming the pandemic on  "dirty" farang is not helpful.} 

^{Is is obvious that Thailand needs western technologies to fight this pandemic.}

^{Right now, the western world are also worries that 2 dosages  may not be enough. It is obviously a difficult situation. Since the waiting period between 2 shots  of AZ were extend to 16 weeks. The big question will the individual have enough protection against the delta virus waiting for the 2nd shot?}  

Phuket  resident are not fully vaccinated. A lot of them has only one AZ shot and the next one in 16 weeks. With the delta virus rampant, they could get infected.

If these people get the virus because they did not get the 2nd shot, it will put the vaccination program into a mess.

The sandbox program is a farce knowing the the rest of the country is suffering.

That is not the way you focus of the safety of the Thai people- A program needs to be established and follows no matter how long it takes.

there is no such a thing in 120 days we are going to be good. Or next month, or 2 weeks...etc.. you cannot build a successful program like that..

it is sad ...but i it is virus against human

Bye bye sandbox  idea

assuming you can leave Phuket where are you going to Go ? Thailand has implemented a travel curb. Malls are closed, many business are shut down. then you have the risk to contract the virus depned on which vaccine you took.

so if you are in Phuket as a visitor best to go home after your 14 days tour. 

come next year

Just now, the green light said:

Deju vu.. I told you so....

 

THAI vaccination program should have done a better job  studying the composition of each vaccines and how it will work. Instead, they have depend on early development of the local vaccine , buy cheaper vaccines that is having problem in various countries.. They have avoid the vaccines that has proven more efficient to control the virus. Moderna and Pfizer- They have not  place a hefty order  last December. They could have made the deal with Pfizer like Israel.

 

Keep dancing on this issue, the opportunity was missed to implement the right vaccines orders soon enough. .It may have been  political motivated leaning on Chinese product to motivate Chinese tourists to come to Thailand. that is what it looks like it.

 

Now, there is a major health concern. Thai missed the window for the major push for the vaccination program. You are looking end of the year until they have enough vaccines.

 

May be they can  ask Joe Biden for more donation or ask him to make a deal with Pfizer in return they can treat the local US farangs  living in Thailand better .( instead of being "dirty") and improve their immigration saga.

 

Something must be done....

 

Deju vu.. I told you so....

THAI vaccination program should have done a better job  studying the composition of each vaccines and how it will work. Instead, they have depend on early development of the local , buy cheaper vaccines having problem in various countries.. They have avoid the vaccines that has proven more efficient to control the virus. Moderna and Pfizer- Never place a hefty ordr in December. They could have made the deal with Pfizer like Israel.

Keep dancing on this issue, the opportunity was missed to implement the right vaccines orders soon enough. may it was political motivated leaning on Chinese product to motivate Chinese tourist to come to Thailand. that is what it looks like it.

Now, there is a major health concern. Thai missed the window for the major push for the vaccination program..

May be they can  ask Joe Biden for more donation or ask him to make a deal with Pfizer in return they can treat the local US farangs  living in Thailand better .( instead of being "dirty") and improve their immigration saga.

Something must be done....

^{the scary part is the news coming from the rest of the world}

^"Pfizer, citing Israeli data that says the delta variant is making its COVID-19 shot less effective, calls for boosters. Medical experts say it’s too soon to worry."

The reaction is hurry up and get you first 2 dosages. As long as people are not being vaccinated quickly. the number will be going up and the higher death tolls..

Politics and disease do not go well together. Any incontrollable viruses cannot be fought with guns and bullets .It has brought down Trump and many other politician in the US..

Countries with applied vaccination program are seeing the infection rising due to the Delta virus mutation. It wont be too long before we see schools and business go online and curb on travel again in many countries.

Let us learn from the past :

" The Spanish flu, also known as the 1918 influenza pandemic, was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. Lasting from February 1918 to April 1920, it infected  about a third of the world's population at the time – in four successive waves.".. let us not be optimistic that it will go away in 120 days or next month or in 14 days..

Thailand needs to push the "RESTART" program and start putting the priorities in order for the safety of their own people at any cost . Most important is to  stop dwelling on lack of tourism.  

Thailand has so many natural resources and a productive labor force.  The government needs to focus  on new ways to create a new profitable industry  by  rejuvenate education, provide training and job opportunities.

The main focus should be on " how to plan in a pandemic situation"

5 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 yes... except, they're still running 140,000 doses per day short of their own self-stated goal of getting 70% of the population fully vaccinated by the end of the year.

 

And they're going to fall further and further behind with every passing day that they come up short, including on every weekend thus far when those 300K-400K dose counts drop to 100K or so.

 

if I understood - It is the first dosage ..It does not classify  you as  being vaccinated .You are vaccinated when you receive the 2 dosages. 

Let us understand the probability here :  one of  the two shot of the vaccine, lower efficient or poor  vaccine due to the uncontrolled Delta virus. all can contribute to be infected while waiting for the 2nd dosage.

Adding to that:  medical staff being vaccinated with the Sinovac to receive a dosage of Pfizer for better protection. 

We all hope for the best ....