TallGuyJohninBKK

Except what you claim above re without usual testing simply isn't/wasn't true, as explained below from USA Today Fact Check and Boston University COVID vaccine myths article, among others: "Having a running start does not mean the testing process was accelerated, however. Hotez ... stated the vaccine still underwent testing among a large group of human volunteers, even more than a typical trial with over 30,000 to 60,000 people. (emphasis added) What accelerated the vaccine process was manufacturing. "The two accelerants are doing the manufacturing of risk (scaling up manufacturing based on the assumption the vaccine will work, also called at-risk manufacturing) and manufacturing the vaccine in parallel with clinical trials. That's new because we usually wait for the phase three results," he said. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/21/fact-check-covid-19-vaccine-nearly-20-years-making/3873247001/ Boston University - 2021: Myths vs. Facts: Making Sense of COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation When so much wrong information is readily available, convincing people to get vaccinated has proven to be a huge challenge ... MYTH: The COVID vaccines were not rigorously tested, which is why they have only emergency authorization approval and not full Food and Drug Administration approval. (Update: Pfizer’s vaccine received full FDA approval on August 19) FACT: “Vaccine developers didn’t skip any testing steps, but conducted some of the steps on an overlapping schedule to gather data faster.”—Johns Hopkins Medicine (emphasis added) Davidson Hamer, a faculty member of BU’s School of Public Health: "The development was more rapid than many other vaccines. But it used the same process of phase one and phase two trials following appropriate safety measures. Stage three trials were large-scale trials done rigorously with very clear outcome definitions. The safety measures and approaches taken are standard for clinical trials. They just did it more rapidly than usual." https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/myths-vs-facts-covid-19-vaccine/

I need to do a living will as well... In the past, when I've dipped my toes into those waters, it seemed like at least SOME private hospitals in BKK (Bummers) wanted you to pay for a consult with their elder care doctors and then have you/them fill out the HOSPITAL'S specific version of a living will document. And it wasn't at all clear, if you just randomly showed up for care, if they'd accept/honor a generic version not done in their own format. The potential problem, of course, if that one never knows potentially many years in advance just what hospital one might end up in when the need arises.... If anyone has any direct experience with the issue of private hospitals in BKK insisting on their version of private wills, feedback would be much appreciated. Really, one generic version that complies with the Thai legal requirements ought to be sufficient.

Congrats on making it to the big 8-0!!! 🙂

U.S. FDA Approves BLA for Novavax's COVID-19 Vaccine May 19, 2025 GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Biologics License Application (BLA) for Nuvaxovid™ for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in adults 65 years and older and individuals 12 through 64 years who have at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 (e.g. asthma, cancer, diabetes, obesity, smoking). "Today's approval solidifies a pathway for Americans aged 65 and older and those aged 12 through 64 with an underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 to have access to a protein-based, non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine," said John C. Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax. "Market research and U.S. CDC statistics indicate that older individuals and those with underlying conditions are the populations most likely to seek out COVID-19 vaccination seasonally. This significant milestone demonstrates our commitment to these populations and is a significant step towards availability of our protein-based vaccine option." ... Novavax expects to be ready for the commercial delivery of the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine formula in the U.S. this fall in partnership with Sanofi, pending strain recommendation at the FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meeting on May 22, 2025. Nuvaxovid has been available for use in the U.S. under Emergency Use Authorization since July 2022 and has full market approvals in the European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada, Australia, Taiwan and Singapore. (more) https://ir.novavax.com/press-releases/2025-05-19-U-S-FDA-Approves-BLA-for-Novavaxs-COVID-19-Vaccine

World agrees pandemic accord for tackling outbreaks of disease Hailed as ‘a victory for public health,’ the agreement aims to build on the lessons of Covid-19 and protect the globe from pathogenic threats ... In order to reach the agreement this week, some key points of contention have been pushed back for later talks. The issue of pathogen access and benefit sharing (Pabs) – or what countries can expect, in terms of access to vaccines and treatments, in return for sharing data on any novel bugs emerging in their territory – will be governed by an annexe to the treaty, to be negotiated over the next 12 months. The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response recommended an agreement of this kind four years ago after reviewing the international response to Covid-19. The panel co-chair, former prime minister of New Zealand Helen Clark, said the agreement should be considered “a foundation from which to build, starting today”. ... The agreement will not open for signatures until the Pabs annexe is completed. It will then come into force after at least 60 countries have signed. However, it is already being seen as a key achievement for the WHO at a time of crisis, with lower funding after the US withdrew necessitating dramatic cuts. (more) https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/may/20/world-agrees-pandemic-accord-for-tackling-outbreaks-of-disease-who-covid

20 May 2025 Agreement’s adoption follows three years of intensive negotiation launched due to gaps and inequities identified in national and global COVID-19 response. Agreement boosts global collaboration to ensure stronger, more equitable response to future pandemics. Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) today formally adopted by consensus the world's first Pandemic Agreement. The landmark decision by the 78th World Health Assembly culminates more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and driven by the goal of making the world safer from – and more equitable in response to – future pandemics. “The world is safer today thanks to the leadership, collaboration and commitment of our Member States to adopt the historic WHO Pandemic Agreement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The Agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats. It is also a recognition by the international community that our citizens, societies and economies must not be left vulnerable to again suffer losses like those endured during COVID-19.” Governments adopted the WHO Pandemic Agreement today in a plenary session of the World Health Assembly, WHO’s peak decision-making body. The adoption followed yesterday’s approval of the Agreement by vote (124 in favour, 0 objections, 11 abstentions) in Committee by Member State delegations. (more) https://www.who.int/news/item/20-05-2025-world-health-assembly-adopts-historic-pandemic-agreement-to-make-the-world-more-equitable-and-safer-from-future-pandemics

Nuvaxovid becomes the only non-messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine approved by the FDA The FDA has approved Novavax’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine, giving some Americans another option besides messenger RNA vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. The approval came with restrictions that the other COVID-19 vaccines do not have, reducing the number of people who will be eligible to receive the shot, branded as Nuvaxovid, which had been available under an emergency use authorization since 2022. The FDA restricted approval of the single-dose adjuvanted vaccine to people aged 65 years or older, and adolescents or adults aged 12 to 64 years with at least one risk factor for severe COVID-19. The agency also will require Novavax to conduct post-approval studies to evaluate the occurrence of two heart conditions, myocarditis and pericarditis, rare side effects of COVID-19 vaccines. (more) https://www.healio.com/news/infectious-disease/20250519/fda-approves-novavaxs-covid19-vaccine-with-restrictions

Anything that doesn't line up with his nonsense narratives has to be attacked and the people voicing those opinions muzzled -- even if they happen to be accurate and true. Truthfulness has never been a particular attribute of Trumpworld or MAGA.

The imbecile has been doing a whole lot of frustrated "lashing out" lately... His list of perceived personal grievances and grudges is long and ill-suited to anyone who calls themself the "President of the United States." But as the saying goes, "it is what it is..."

The Thai Travel Clinic at Mahidol University near the Victory Monument BTS station is listing availabiliity of the COVID JN.2 version vaccine for their price of 1,762 baht. https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/cost.html The Thai Red Cross Clinic (Travel and Immunization Clinic) in the past also had the COVID vaccine at a similar price, though you'd have to check with them about their current status. Their vaccines list on their website says they have it available, but the posted list seems to be from 2021 and hasn't been updated. https://www.facebook.com/QSMITRCS/posts/pfbid02X2MW3goL9xzNmdBKohKu91V1NZF4fcrkZPYGC2NZqoPXSyybZ5Uke6tLGr7iExW8l https://saovabha.org/service_saovabha/Our-Clinic https://saovabha.org/home Contact Us 1871 Rama 4 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330 info[at]saovabha.org 0 2252 0161 Office Hours Monday – Friday 08.30 – 16.30 hrs. clinic opens on Monday-Friday : 1.00 PM - 4.00 PM Saturday Sunday and Public Holiday : closed ------------------------------------- Last time I checked in BKK, both Bumrungrad and Praram 9 private hospitals were providing COVID vaccines as well, but at substantially higher prices. ------------------------------------- The former free COVID vaccination clinics were sponsored by / run by the Thai Government and its Ministry of Public Health. But I've heard/seen nothing from them lately on that subject. The MOPH / Department of Disease Control does have an English-speaking call center reachable via phone 1422 that in the past has had info about the extent of COVID vaccines available around BKK, both from public and private sources (though their private source details were not always accurate/up-to-date). Believe the hotline is staffed M-F 8 am to 8 pm. The last time I checked more than a year ago, MOPH was providing COVID vaccines on just certain days at various of their community public health clinics scattered around BKK, and at some of their public hospitals... But you'd have to check with MOPH/DDC about whether those offerings have lapsed or are still continuing (albeit unpublicized). Anything you find in the way of results, please do post that info back here for others to see. Thx.

Off to Police General Hospital he'll soon be going, or some similar arrangement owing to his "health."

Wonder where the steel came from? Wonder where the concrete came from? Wonder who built the project? Perhaps the same suppliers and contractors as with the (similarly collapsed) State Audit Office Building.

Thanks for the above. Don't think I'd ever seen / noticed the #2 item you quoted above. Very helpful, as regards the Schwab Intl. account and the U.S. tax implications for it!

I think the gift tax scenario @Yumthai is talking about is the up to 40% U.S. gift tax that comes into play where a NRA (in this case Thai spouse) inherits U.S. brokerage assets from an American spouse accountholder.

Following thru on your scenario above, however, if my Thai wife had a Schwab Intl account with U.S. holdings that produced interest or dividends, then she would be earning U.S. source income. Wouldn't that trigger a U.S. tax filing obligation on her part? Right now, I do married filing separately, file my own individual U.S. tax return, and tell the U.S. my wife doesn't have a U.S. tax filing obligation because she has no U.S. source income. But she does have a pretty well paid Thai job, and the last thing I want to do is trigger the U.S. IRS coming to take their cut of that alongside the Thai Revenue Dept.

I'm trying to follow the sum of what you're saying above... I've been thinking about having my Thai wife open a Schwab intl account, which ultimately should ease her inheriting the Schwab U.S. accounts that I have with her as my POD beneficiary. But one fear I had about that was the prospect of landing her, as a Thai citizen and resident, in the complicated and sometimes arcane world of U.S. IRS taxation. However, if I'm understanding you above, you're saying a Thai citizen NRA for U.S. purposes would have NO U.S. tax filing obligation based on a Schwab Intl account, and Schwab would simply automatically take out the DTA mandated withholding, and she wouldn't have any U.S. tax filing headaches. Is that correct as best as you understand it?

The Thai authorities seem to have a standard playbook they work from in these kinds of high-profile cases -- publicly announce the planned arrests in the news media ahead of time, ensuring that the influentials or connected folks involved have plenty of time to exit Thailand before the police come knocking....

Just curious... if anyone here has asked and gotten the answer: Re the Schwab international brokerage accounts, assuming the accountholder is listed as residing in Thailand, how would Schwab handle estate planning / succession for the account, and in what country jurisdiction-wise, given that apparently the international accounts don't allow for POD beneficiaries? And Thailand has no such POD process in its civil law framework.

This OP source rubbish purveyor has been at it for a long time relating to COVID... Here he was 4 years back still spouting nonsense: https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.9PW8PJ Whenever I need authoritative info regarding COVID and vaccines, retired chiropractors are the very FIRST experts I seek out, of course!!! YEEESH!!! Interesting that the above AFP Fact Check report from Oct. 2021 concludes with the following tidbit: "AFP Fact Check has debunked more than 1,000 false or misleading claims about the virus and the vaccines." That was almost FOUR years ago. Just think how many thousands more there have been since then, including probably hundreds of nonsense posts right here that would not survive any actual fact checking, were it to be done. But hey, this is part of the "Off the Beaten Track" forum, where demonstrably false information and non-credible sources are officially encouraged!

That's the kind of non-"expert" that the OP poster here tirelessly spams the forum with. Because the actual scientists and medical researchers with expertise in COVID, infectious diseases and vaccines typically would regard all of his posting and cited sources as RUBBISH!

New York Times May 1, 2024 "There remains no evidence that the Wuhan institute stored any virus that could have become the coronavirus and caused Covid, with or without scientific tinkering, researchers have said. Scientists who specialize in tracing outbreaks have published analyses of early cases and viral genomes that they say point to the pandemic’s starting at an illegal wild-animal market in Wuhan. The presence of the coronavirus in samples from the market containing genetic material linked to raccoon dogs, they have said, is consistent with that scenario." https://archive.ph/Ho5gO#selection-7035.0-7043.51

I agree with your general comments above, SpikerM.... It's not just the fact that there have been SOME construction mishaps there resulting in fatalities. That's something that can and does happen at times. it's the fact that there CONTINUE to be mishap after mishap over a long period of many months, signaling that despite authorities' promises to "investigate" and take some unspecified action, NOTHING really has changed, and the same dangers remain unabated. The people responsible need to be held accountable, and the ongoing problems fixed. But clearly, that's simply not happening at all...

I've skipped several what otherwise would have been vacation trips to Hua Hin lately -- specifically because I simply won't drive or be driven on that road anymore, so long as the ongoing carnage continues there unabated.

Redfield is not in the same gutter league as McCullough, Kirsch and RFK Jr... But he's a medical doctor who has a documented history of letting his political and religious views get in the way of what objective science actually is showing. Hence, he wasn't very credible back then, and isn't any better today. Meet Trump’s New, Homophobic Public Health Quack The Centers for Disease Control will soon be run by a military doctor with a long history of pushing discriminatory AIDS policies. March 23, 2018 "The extraordinarily disruptive turnover in the Trump administration’s senior staff has officially reached the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The White House, having already cycled through one CDC director, has named its second: Robert Redfield, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and former University of Maryland opioids and AIDS researcher. He is exactly the wrong person for the job. Amid an exploding influenza epidemic across the United States, an opioids crisis that has decreased the statistical life expectancy of Americans, and a budget crisis that twice compelled closure of critical laboratory and disease-fighting services, the CDC desperately needs a leader who can promise stability and expertise. Redfield represents the opposite; he is someone whose track record in HIV research and public health policy has been a scientific and moral failure." https://foreignpolicy.com/2018/03/23/meet-trumps-new-homophobic-public-health-quack/

Neither your source nor Redfield, the original useless Trump pawn as a CDC director during COVID, are very high on the credibility index... Or I guess better to say, both are pretty LOW on the credibility index: CDC woes bring Director Redfield’s troubled past as an AIDS researcher to light June 5, 2020 "...This is not the first time Redfield has been at the heart of a controversy over the government’s response to a virus epidemic. In the early 1990s, Redfield, then one of the Army’s top AIDS researchers, was at the center of a scandal over a purported HIV vaccine. Allegations that Redfield oversold data and cherry-picked results sparked an internal Army investigation into his work.  [emphasis added] The Army ultimately did not charge Redfield with scientific misconduct. But interviews with former colleagues with direct knowledge of the investigation, and a review of internal documents suggest Redfield knew he was misrepresenting the data behind the vaccine, even as he publicly touted its results— an effort that ultimately helped garner millions in federal funds for further testing. [emphasis added] Redfield was also found to be in violation of Army code over his relationship with a conservative AIDS nonprofit run by a prominent evangelical activist who has promoted abstinence-only solutions to the disease. In the end, the vaccine treatment did not pan out. Redfield has previously said that he stands by his work." [emphasis added] https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/politics/cdc-redfield-aids-walter-reed-army-investigation/index.html And of course, your "news" source, predictably, is even worse: https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/slay-news-bias-and-credibility/