jayboy

I would be interested to know what members think about a 2nd booster.I'm over 60 and have had my three shots (AZ,AZ and Pfizer). Haven't left Thailand since 2019 but plan a visit to Germany in September.Don't anticipate any issues as I'm "fully vaccinated." However on the personal health front, I'm aware that my Pfizer booster shot administered in February, will have largely worn off by September - though still providing good protection against hospitalization/death.

So my question is - does it make sense to get a 2nd booster before travel and is that even possible in Thailand?

On 3/3/2022 at 10:27 AM, ThailandRyan said:

Is this a U-turn or a Flip-Flop and will Thailand stick to its signatory or was it a meaningless signature and statement since they did not mention Russia in their statement......

It's a U-turn given that the political/bureaucratic Thailand clear response was to abstain.So the next question is why? I surmise that the world's very strong reaction against Russia - despite (1) Thailand's strong historical relationship with Russia and (2) Thailand's propensity to kowtow to China - was enough to tip Thailand over to supporting the resolution.

Thailand will have noticed that Germany has left behind the Merkel policy of handling Russia with kid gloves and is now unambiguously hostile to Putin.It would be, let us say, very awkward if Germany started asking Thailand why they were being unhelpful.(Think about it)

On 1/26/2022 at 12:35 PM, Ohyesuare said:

I understand that but it's the same company. You need something saying $50,000 coverage minimum to qualify for the Thailand Pass, there have been many reports of people being rejected if they submit without it specifying this if you search around. I'm not understanding exactly what you need to know beyond that but good luck to you in getting the answer you're looking for.

Thanks and apologies for late response.Just in case there are others who have the same concern, let me restate the issue.Looking back I was less than clear so understand your query.Here goes:

The Thai Pass requires the Covid Insurance confirmation to be uploaded on one page. This needs - I assume - to state the cover is at least US Dlrs 50,000,to have one's name inserted along with insurance the time frame.My medical insurance company confirms the cover by issuing a one page add-on but it doesn't have the requisite details.I suppose it is just a matter of asking for these details to be inserted.The revised page can presumably be used to show officials when entering Thailand.

3 hours ago, qualtrough said:

This mystified me as well. Profoundly uncomfortable with Thai values, and apparently thinking that being a permanent resident rather than a citizen makes him/her morally superior in some way?? And the baggage part? What? I feel like I dropped off a boatload of baggage once I obtained my citizenship.

I don't feel morally superior at all and nothing I have said could lead anyone to such a conclusion.In any case it's entirely an individual decision and I've already said qualified people who need citizenship for practical reasons should of course do it.I have a couple of friends in that position.My initial response was simply to the question posed of why someone qualified should prefer PR to citizenship.I said that was certainly my position and I fully understand it would be a small number. I do not see how how one can take citizenship from a foreign country without endorsing that country's values.I don't and on this matter at least will stick to my principles.If the rotten core was cut away and the younger generation of enlightened Thais took over, that would be a different matter. (For those with the wit to grasp how tectonic plates can move, look around you - it's already happening.) Others like you take a different view and there's no possible objection to that.

5 hours ago, Neeranam said:

When adding a nationality, you don't have to change your values, not that there is anything wrong with Thai values.

 

I added no baggage when gaining Thai citizenship. No idea what you're on about.

The fact that you have no idea what I'm talking about speaks volumes and suggests your decision to take Thai citizenship was a wise one.Where ignorance is bliss, it's folly to be wise.

12 minutes ago, Ohyesuare said:

Many people use AXA in Thailand, just ask them, they should be very aware by now of the wording you will need.

I don't use AXA in Thailand.I use AXA International which has a worldwide clientele.

Having said that, if someone on AXA Thailand books with first hand knowledge could advise what's needed, that would be very kind.

58 minutes ago, internationalism said:

Need to be over $50k. 
ask them for a covid letter. They know what to write, jargon 

My insurance company does provide a general letter on Covid as an add on to the policy.But it does not mention a specific amount like Dlrs 50,000 for Covid simply that Covid is covered under the policy.My question related to what the Thai authorities actually require in practice.I don't think one can rely on the insyrance companies knowledge of the right wording since they have to deal with multiple countries/requirements.

I apologize for raising an issue which I suspect has already been answered but I can't seem to find the relevant thread.

I'm making my first overseas trip (to the USA) since 2019.I'm aware that COVID-19 insurance is required on my return to Thailand and I'm covered by medical insurance cover with AXA International which states cover will be provided for in-patient treatment as the result of a pandemic including COVID-19.

My question is what exactly do immigration officials in Thailand need to see on COVID-19 cover and how thorough is the perusal of relevant documents. I'm 99% certain all is in order but I would kick myself if there's some small adjustment which could have been sorted out in advance (e.g getting my insurers to provide a form of wording that satisfied Thai entry requirements.)

21 hours ago, GarryP said:

so why waste the time and money on PR. 

Because there are some who want to obtain the benefits and security of permanent residence but have no wish to become Thai citizens (and all the baggage that goes with it). How many in that category? Probably not many but I am one of them.

There will be some in that category who take a purely utilitarian approach (for example wishing to buy and own land/houses in own name) and will take the now cheaper and easier course of going for citizenship even though profoundly uncomfortable with prevailing Thai values.They are right to do so on practical terms.

41 minutes ago, jomtienisgood said:

You did notice your pink ID card starts with figure 8 for PR, the other cards start with fig.6 .....

I'm not sure what point you're making but yes, the number beginning 8 is the same.As a matter of interest, the number allocated at time of PR doesn't actually appear in the Red Book or Blue/White one (at least I haven't found it yet). It's on one's page in the tabien baan.

1 hour ago, DrJoy said:

You said ' Japanese housewives' but someone who is working as a  company MD obviously wont go to grade 1 and start learning Thai.

I'm not sure about that.In the 1980's I recall at least two senior British businessmen learning Thai who took the Thai

language examination geared to Thai primary age children.I can even remember the photograph of them both at the British Club when receiving certificates

12 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

The only thing on my pink ID card that would differentiate me from non-PR holders is that my Thai ID number starts with 8. That's too fine a point for most people to pick up on except perhaps for immigration officers, PR holders and possibly some other government officials.

 

I have had some experience with showing my driving license at some privately-owned places and have gotten in at the Thai price, but not any government attractions. I don't expect that having PR will get me Thai pricing in most instances.

For the record the pink ID card has nothing to do with PR (I have both) and does not in any sense form part of the documentation for PR.I appreciate it was referred to as "optional" but the key point it is available to most resident foreigners.Some PR holders have it and some don't. On a personal basis I would recommend getting one as it is gradually getting more known about and hence more useful than hitherto.This was illustrated recently in the vaccine rollout.

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’ll ignore all your emotional nonsense accusation in the above and go to this:

 

You’ve stated ‘[obesity] is embedded in the culture’.

 

Your starter for ten, explain what this ‘Culture of obesity is’?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anything to avoid dealing with the issue, it seems.Never mind - many have a blind spot on the subject of British obesity.To some extent it's a class issue.

As to the UK culture of obesity this is hardly esoteric material.There's so much evidence.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/britain_diet

38 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You’ve packed it with enough nonsense to warrant disregarding the whole

Is that your rather lame excuse for disregarding the obesity issue and the scientific evidence on it?

Can you identify what you disagree with? I cannot see anything in it which is in the slightest controversial. It's not enough to say a post is packed with nonsense if you are completely silent on even the general gist of your reservations.None of us are immune from criticism on this complicated subject, certainly not me.But you seem to be caught up in your own narrative, most of which is plausible as I pointed out earlier, but angrily intolerant of contrary opinions or indeed any evidence which unsettles your narrative.That's your right but this is a discussion forum.

59 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I phrased my question in response to the content of your post. 
 

 

 

 

 

Your head in the sand position on the devastating relationship between Covid and obesity in the UK isn't that unusual.It's not however one shared by doctors on the front line though you no doubt dismiss their opinion as casually as you ignore the views of the BMJ and the CDC.

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Perhaps you’d like to start a thread on your misconceptions surrounding obesity.

 

 

No, because the way you phrase your question reflects an unwillingness to grasp the immensity of the problem in the UK.The intractable problem of obesity in the UK is directly relevant to the high number of deaths, the subject of this thread.This kind of denial is sadly widespread. For those who are genuinely interested the British Medical Journal and the Center for Disease Control have relevant background.

https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/03/04/we-must-tackle-obesity-and-health-inequalities-in-order-to-build-back-better/

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/obesity-and-covid-19.html

5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Hogwash.

 

Doctors in the UK are quite capable of determining the cause of death.

 

As has been explained, but I’l repeat it for you.

 

The COVID virus does not itself kill, it causes diseases that kill.
 

So the patient gets infected with COVID then dies of lung failure, kidney failure, blood clots etc.

 

The cause of death is disease brought on by COVID. Hence ‘died with COVID’ is entirely correct.

This is broadly speaking correct.However it's necessary to have perspective when judging the UK's comparative performance on Covid mortality, the best way being to examine excess mortality - essentially the additional deaths that have taken place using a baseline of recent non pandemic years.By this criterion the UK comes in the middle of the pack of rich European nations.Better than Italy and Spain but worse than Germany and France.

The UK government has certainly made mistakes and the media has rightly focused on these but frankly so have many other governments.What is almost never discussed is the UK's particular problem of obesity and those knowledgeable about Intensive care facilities will tell you that most of the patients (elderly 80+ excepted) are seriously overweight.Of course obesity occurs in other countries but it doesn't seem so embedded in the culture.Immigrant communities and ethnic minorities are affected disproportionately as they are in other European countries - but in the UK the explanation is almost always "systemic racism".And of course all and sundry blame the heartless Tory Government as though there are no other factors in play.

I'm all for bashing Boris but there's a stench of dishonesty in the air in the discussion of Covid in the UK.Let's see what a judge led inquiry throws up.On a purely anecdotal basis I was watching a BBC report recently when a morbidly obese NHS nurse was explaining her condition as a result of lacking the time to eat healthily and that the government was to blame for under funding the system.Pull the other one.

47 minutes ago, fersken said:

I was in yesterday to get the yellow vaccine card, and asked as I have not been able to make the app work if they could help me, they said the app is only for Thais??

No that's not correct.Lots of foreigners have the app.I can see why they said that though.It's because a 13 digit number is required.Foreigners who have a pink card or who are registered on a blue tabien baan (PRs) have one.I'm not sure about this but my impression that many foreigners without either also have the app.I think the software at the vaccination centers requires a 13 digit number.

My Mor Phrom app on my iPhone was working well until recently.Now when I open it after entering my password it disappears completely before I can log in.Is it possible to delete the app and download again? I suppose the more sensible option would be to hang on until the software is fixed.Anyone else experienced similar issues?

The situation is certainly confusing.I know for a fact that in the case of a large very well known hospital in Bangkok in the last month.

1.Walk in customers have been successful in immediately obtaining the Moderna vaccine.

2.Telephoning enquirers have been told the timing of the arrival of Moderna vaccines is uncertain, perhaps March -June 2022

3.Customers with prepaid booking (In August 2021) of the Moderna vaccine have been given the same answer as 2 above.

4.Other customers with prepaid bookings (in August 2021) have been offered confirmed appointments in late December 2021/January 2022.

I can't really make rhyme or reason of this.

31 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

And in the UK. I just watched a video of people out on a Saturday night in Manchester, and the overwhelming majority of the girls had huge chunky thighs. What made it look worse was that they also wore dresses that barely covered their crotch. Obviously they considered their size as perfectly normal.

There is a distinct correlation in the UK ,and increasingly in Thailand, between social class/wealth and obesity.When I last visited the UK (three years ago now) I visited my father in a Manchester hospital.The level of obesity there was staggering particularly among nurses and ambulance staff.I also visited my niece's son at a well known Dorset public school event for parents.There was not a single fat person at the gathering.Later back in London I spent time in the Sloane Square area (almost no obesity visible) and then Peckham, South London - much more obesity.Without going into detail there is a distinct ethnic aspect to this as well.I remarked on all this to an American friend who mentioned that the disparity is even more glaring in the USA.

5 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

Being called fat or tubby in Thailand is considered a compliment and not a derogatory name.

 

Fat-shaming in the West is now basically a hate crime. Thailand will get there eventually.

 

 

 

 

Only true up to a point and it's never a compliment.I'm aware of many Thais with 'fatty' type nicknames and there is no obvious malice on one side (the opposite really since usually used with affection) or resentment by the person so called.

But there is a huge pressure on Thai girls - and increasingly boys - to be fashionably slim, even underweight.This causes a great deal of unhappiness.