Karma80

Why not just come out and say - we're gonna vaccinate people with whatever we have to hand at the time. It's ok, you're probably safe, we googled it. We have a bucket load of Sinovac we need to use and need to make our numbers look better on paper.

Code for installing a couple of CCTV cameras installed by his brother for 23 million bhat that won't be working when you need them.

Covid is indeed endemic. But, there is a big difference. The UK deployed a quality vaccine effective against the current virus to the majority of the population to manage and strike a balance that is acceptable to the population of economy, social expectation and health outcome. Thailand is absolutely not at that point. Mix and match vaccine policies to try to cover up shortages, 50% of the population with vaccines that less effective (looking at you Sinovac) and not anything like the coverage. Also, "management" is spelled with a "mis-" here ????

Absolutely. What complete garbage. A survey of 0.4% of arrivals not a survey, it's just marketing, and quite a pathetic effort at that.

You mean in line with personal gain.

I pay agents. Either I pay them or waste my day and end up paying one way or another.

Let's use another Chinese vaccine everyone! We get to have even more kickbacks.

And this article will be the most ironic thing you read today. I should get back to washing my supercars.

I'm not sure if you are in Phuket or not yet. I hope you do have a good vacation here. A tourist free Phuket is a unique experience. It's certainly nothing like pre-covid times. But as long as you don't believe the marketing fluff and understand the reality of the islands significant challenges being faced, there is much to enjoy.

Another day, more vaccine promises. Did they commission the TAT to handle PR?

This is like a bad overseas drama series, poorly subtitled. Now for a re-cap of season 1.

The only difference here is they were filmed doing it and it went public. This isn't anything new. "Disappearing" is something that happens more than anyone would like to think about, but a common term. Thailand is not a safe country, never was, and always joins the bottom of the pile for international safety rankings. There is a reason for that.

The question should actually be, if the people coming to the sandbox are: 1. Short term = People on vacation in the traditional sense with real return flights they intend to make back. 2. Long term = People arriving on tourist visas/waiver with the intention of trying to stay in Thailand for a longer stay. Covid extensions, changing to "ahem" educational/volunteer visa, or transitioning to a legit longer term visa. 3. Expats, PR & Thai citizens = People with retirement visas, Elite visa, work permits and make a usual home in Thailand. The sandbox is the defacto best way to serve quarantine entry requirements back to Thailand for many who don't want to endure 2 weeks locked in room. Of the above, I see the first group in the minority and then split 2 & 3. There isn't a lot to do in Phuket right now as a tourist. The Bangkok post article says this morning that many foreign consuls are reporting that tourists coming to Phuket feel deceived. I like living in Phuket, but I'd feel the same if I came here as a legit short term tourist.

TIT. Anyone who comes here expecting less than a systemic and cultural norm of day to day corruption will have a hard time. It's not a case of if you will come across it in your daily life in Thailand, but when.

Amazing Thailand. More Amazing EverydayTM The worst part about it is, nobody is really surprised. I wonder if Izuzu sponsored his hat for the photo and will make car number 30.

The UK government views Thailand as having a very low vaccination and efficacy rate, together with rising cases. This could lead to new variant being imported into the UK. That's the logic anyway. Can't say I blame them really. We're using Sinovac as a primary vaccine and shuffling people off to ATK testing.

Australians > "Hold my beer".

Of course it's about the money. Uniform + Thailand = Money + Corruption. The only difference here is that you got filmed murdering someone and your colleagues threw you under the bus.

I live here and it's most certainly open. That said, it's no place for a short term tourist. Look elsewhere. For the longer term traveller, it's a great quarantine alternative.

I'm not sure it will significantly effect real UK arrival numbers anyway. How many people from the UK were seriously dumb enough to book a two week long haul holiday, rainy season, in a pandemic, to mostly closed island, when international travel rules can shift at a moments notice. The sandbox will still remain the quarantine of choice for anyone coming to Thailand long term who doesn't want to be locked in a room for 15 days in Bangkok. I feel for expats who need to return to the UK for some reason though. That's a blow.

The government already announced they intended to push for an mRNA booster to those fully vaccinated with Sinovac. It's not news that they already have been dishing out AZ boosters to front line staff, because they don't have enough mRNA. No word when the rest of the population who got Sinovac might expect that intention to be a reality. Sometime after everyone is vaccinated I imagine. Right now, even two does of Sinovac moves the needle to pats on the back and congratulations to a job well done in % of vaccinated overall. Sinovac served a purpose as the first off the line vaccine rolled out in the face of the initial strain. It was appropriate and no doubt saved lives. The virus has moved and to be dishing this out still, knowing it to be ineffective at best, is putting lipstick on a pig.

Bars are closed. Some pivoted to "restaurants". Real restaurants do close at 9pm and should not serve alcohol. Anything beyond that isn't legal and of course does happen. Beer in paper/coffee cup? Lock in? But it's breaking the law and you roll the dice.

It's this that should be the headline. This is the primary vaccine used in Thailand.

The real number is higher. I have friends that have tried to get tested and been told to go home and isolate. Come back when you're really sick. Good strategy.

Nobody is shocked by the common sense of it. Sadly, we won't be shocked by the lies and manipulation to come either.