jayboy

1 hour ago, KKr said:

about 35+ years ago I left my country of Birth.
Since then, not paying taxes there except for deductions on Pension Payments for the last few years.

Considering this, and other than issuing a travel advice a year ago and being helpful organising some repatriation flights,  in your opinion, why would an Embassy have to do what?

Your personal circumstances are irrelevant.

As to the duties of an Embassy, a significant component is to represent the interests of resident citizens.As to the current pandemic, it's the duty of the Embassy to keep those resident citizens informed and to lobby with government to ensure resident citizens (most of whom don't have the enabling pink ID cards) have access to vaccine.None of this means individuals don't have the prime responsibility for their health and safety.

Out of curiosity I checked the Australian Embassy website.Immediately one sees a video message from the Ambassador on arrangements for travel to Australia and a direct message to resident expatriates with a promise to keep them updated on the rollout of vaccines to foreign nationals in Thailand.

The British Embassy website as everybody knows is clunky and hard to navigate.The blame of course lies not in Bangkok but with the long standing London directive for all state websites to conform to one format.On the support for UK residents in Thailand the contrast with Australia could hardly be more striking.It's not that the Australians have more info than the Brits (I would certainly expect a close working relationship and exchange of info between diplomats of both countries). It's more that there appears with the Australians to be more of a sense of urgency and real wish to help.

9 minutes ago, Jen65 said:

Ok so as an expat / foreigner living in Thailand , one is included in the vaccination programme and now one can register by an App to get vaccinated !!  Brilliant !!  But does this App give one a choice of vaccines ??   If only the Sinovac then totally unsuitable for myself as I am over 70 .  The Prime minister had the Astra Zenica one as Sinovac unsuitable for him !!

Complete waste of time unless the App specifies different vaccines for different categories of people and advises / informs which one to choose !!  

Most expatriates can't get included since most expatriates don't have a pink card.I am lucky enough to have one but will not be signing up with Mor Prom.I will use a private sector hospital and am, living a secluded life, prepared to wait a few months.But most expatriates have been left in the lurch and the embassies/government are doing nothing practical to help.

1 hour ago, Pilotman said:

and you don't think that when we are facing the most virulent and dangerous World Wide  pandemic in over 100 years that some more practical response and help could be funnelled through the various Embassies? If not, then having Embassies at all is a nonsense and an expense that we could well do without . 

Your frustration is shared and I have touched on your concerns in my second paragraph.The British Embassy is doing its best by its own reckoning but there is a rather casual feel in its approach to the real fears being felt by the large British expatriate population. It's almost as if they (Embassy staff) had already been vaccinated!

3 hours ago, Pilotman said:

Sir, you rather prove my point with regard to the vaccine against a pandemic virus that is killing millions..  Once British Citizens are clear of the UK shores, you and your colleagues wash your hands of us and confine your activities to meaningless paperwork, for which you charge we tax payers over the top.  Helping a very few families with bereavements seems to be little justification for you and your large staff to even be here. I say again, as strongly as I can, that you should be facilitating a vaccine roll out for UK citizens and not relying on a foreign government to do your job for you. This post is not abusive, so I hope that it remains here for you and others to read. 

This is unfair and inaccurate.Nevertheless it's concerning that the departing Ambassador's letter as pertaining to vaccines seems to have been overtaken by events.This of course is no fault of his but large numbers of British expatriates are feeling very exposed since they had assumed they would be able to obtain vaccinations at private hospitals, not being part of the prioritized Thai health care system.Perhaps in the event they will but the situation is not clear now.Most expatriates will wait to see how the process pans out - what else can they do?

One does however I'm afraid detect a slight lack of energy and focus in addressing expatriates' concerns on this issue.In situations of this kind one is always told "we are working hard between the scenes.Most people don't expect the Embassy to molly coddle or be involved in provision of vaccines.One does expect however very intensive work by the Embassy in concert with other Embassies in ensuring that resident expatriates are given equal treatment.This does not mean getting vague assurances but very specific steps agreed.I'm pretty sure Dominic Raab would agree.

The next month will be critical.

8 hours ago, sirineou said:

Because 23 months ago, vaccines were very expensive. Next year when everyone else in the world are vaccinated prices will be dirt cheap. That's the time to negotiate!!

Wrong answer.The government became complacent about vaccines since it believed the virus was very much under control in Thailand (which it was initially). Possibly it believed that delaying action might increase its range of buying options but I doubt if getting supplies "dirt cheap" was a driving concern. It placed excessive reliance on the Siam Bio science production of Astra Zeneca.Less said about that the better.Sadly however the key explanations for the slow rollout are incompetence and cronyism.

My hunch is that Thailand will ride through this latest spike and vaccines will come on stream in second half of the year. Thailand will get through this because of its many strengths.Government's overall record isn't disgraceful but it could have been so much better.

37 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Did you miss the recent report from a major Thai private hospital saying they are only putting Thais on their list?

 

Yes I did.Which one and what did it say?

Some major hospitals in response to inquiries point out that Covid 19 vaccination bookings with the BMA Health Office requires a Thai ID.However you seem to be suggesting more than this.

4 hours ago, Jingthing said:

If we had ASSURANCES that the private hospitals would be selling vaccines in a timely manner so that HIGH RISK expats could access them, then that would be a different story. We have had no such assurances. 

This is different to what you said in an earlier post.My understanding is that in due course private hospitals will be able to offer vaccinations.This might take a few months and should be open to all comers: there is unlikely to be any prioritization in terms of high risk.

The Embassy issue is something else and much of the chatter on this thread is unrealistic. The Western embassies will never offer facilities to Western expatriates.Nor in a country like Thailand with a solid health infrastructure, should they.What I object to is the patronizing advice from embassies to fellow citizens on using local facilities, while they obtain protection from overseas on the quiet. I'm not saying they're wrong to do it but there's a whiff of hypocrisy involved.

40 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The Proof of address needs to be in English.

 

Thus: my Pink ID could not be used (or my Yellow house book) - I had them with me, but they were rejected. Fortunately, I had my Thai DL in my wallet (when at the VFS making the application). 

 

I have used my Thai Driving Licence 3x now for proof of address when obtaining a British Passport (for my Son), then 5 years later when renewing his passport and also when renewing my passport. 

 

Op, if you have your Thai DL - thats the solution you are looking for. 

Not necessarily if you have a lifetime Thai DL - as several members do.On the lifetime license the address is printed in Thai.

19 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Evidence of what?  If you mean evidence of Embassy/British Council staff receiving their first AZ vaccination, than yes I know people who work there.  If you mean evidence of their non-response to my enquiry, then no.  They just haven't replied.

Just hearsay then.The British consulate is an active participant on this forum so I'm sure they will let us know one way or another.

10 hours ago, asiacurious said:

Interesting article here....

 

 

A couple of quotes....

 

 

And this....

 

 

 

SOURCE: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2021/04/americans-who-still-cant-get-vaccinated/618622/

 

The whole piece is worth a read.

 

If advanced economies like the US or the UK have diplomats in countries which have an inadequate health structure and/or where there is the unlikelihood of obtaining Covid vaccines within an acceptable time period, then it seems completely reasonable - indeed mandatory - to ensure their people receive protection with vaccines sent via diplomatic mail and other privileged means.

However Thailand does not fall into this category.There are large US and UK expatriate populations here and resident diplomats, if their managers have any sense of honor and integrity, should experience the same process as their fellow citizens.

That might mean waiting a few months and in the meantime taking all due measures to protect themselves.

If however it's decided there's one approach for diplomats and another for resident expatriates, it's not actually wrong but it would be hard to respect the people involved in that decision.

To be clear I have no knowledge whether diplomats have been quietly supplied with vaccines  or not.I suspect not because if that had been the case, I'm sure the consular staff who post on this forum would have mentioned it.

I

4 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

The UK Embassy have vaccinated their own staff (AZ vaccine), and those working for the British Council (both Brits and Thais).  I did enquire as to whether there was a chance of extending it to other Brits (at a price), but no response.

Do you have evidence for this?

I haven't used Grab transport in Bangkok for some time.I today looked at the app on my phone and noted some changes, particularly on payment.There's a cashless option with GrabPay Wallet powered by KBank - but this is only open to Thai citizens.There's no obvious option to pay by credit card.Unless I;m mistaken there's only the option for foreigners to pay by cash.Have I missed something?

On 4/12/2021 at 4:51 PM, Filer said:

Overall, in my view, a very good attempt to recreate the feel of 1970s Bangkok

I agree.As good as have been reasonably expected.Unlike many such series a great deal of effort has been given to getting the period feel.

On 4/11/2021 at 9:58 PM, gearbox said:

I've chatted with people in a few countries in regards to their vaccinations, and all refuse to vaccinate with AZ.

Oh well, that settles it then.Never mind that the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence takes a different view. It's true that a tiny risk of blood clotting (much less than being struck by lightning) means that under 35s might want to consider a different vaccine.But overall despite the hysteria in Europe, the AZ vaccine has been shown to be highly effective.

On 4/12/2021 at 5:36 PM, 007 RED said:

As Safarimike11 above said, you can collect your new passport on either Monday or Wednesday and no appointment is needed.... but note the collection time is between 1:00pm and 2:00pm only.

 

Please be advised that VFS is closed this coming Wednesday (14th) because of Songkran holiday. 

 Just as an afterthought given the developing COVID situation in Thailand, is there a web page which gives telephone numbers, opening hours etc for VFS Trendy Building? I can't find one.

1 hour ago, 007 RED said:

As Safarimike11 above said, you can collect your new passport on either Monday or Wednesday and no appointment is needed.... but note the collection time is between 1:00pm and 2:00pm only.

 

Please be advised that VFS is closed this coming Wednesday (14th) because of Songkran holiday. 

Many thanks.I'm grateful to you and Safarimike11.I'll collect it next week.

On 4/10/2021 at 10:26 AM, 007 RED said:

I was pleasantly surprised when I got an email from VFS Bangkok advising me that my passport was ready for collection approximately 3 weeks after making the application.

I'm in the same position, also rather impressed by the speed between application and delivery.Could you very kindly let me know which days and between what times the new passport can be collected.Is an appointment needed?

I've looked on line and there's some conflicting information.My present understanding is Mondays or Wednesdays, between 1 pm and 3 pm no appointment needed.Is that right?

On 4/7/2021 at 12:07 PM, Arkady said:

The Brits seem to have become more and more craven towards Thai governments over the years in desperation to get weapons and other deals,

I think that's an inaccurate summary (can cite supportive cases and also question some of the examples you cite) but will not argue the case here.The key factor is that the US is a great power and the UK is not, and thus has much less leverage.In the imperial British heyday even loose associations with British citizenship could prompt the despatch of gunboats.The famous example is that of Don Pacifico.This was an international incident provoked by the actions of a Greek mob, who in 1847 ransacked and burnt the house of Don Pacifico, a Portuguese moneylender who was also a Jew, injuring his wife and children. Pacifico, who had been born in Gibraltar and could therefore claim British nationality, demanded compensation from the Greek government. Insisting on Pacifico's rights as a British subject, the British Foreign Secretary, Lord Palmerston, took up the case in 1850 and decided to reinforce his entitlement to compensation by blockading Greece with the British fleet.

2 hours ago, JTXR said:

There's no doubt the whole vaccine thing has become political.  The private hospitals are ready to import and administer vaccines (for a cost, of course) and could do so quickly as soon as they get government approval. 

It appears government approval has not yet been given.I suspect it soon will be not because of the needs/opinions of foreigners - they matter not a jot - but because of pressure from the large urban Thai upper middle class upon whose support the government depends.

1 hour ago, mtls2005 said:

Some hospitals have reached out to patient lists gauging interest in a vaccine.

 

At least one hospital got spanked for being too aggressive: 10,000 baht reservations.

 

"Watch this space" doesn't really advance anything. More or less useless.

 

My guess is that hospitals are keeping a low profile, while trying to source vaccines, in order to not run afoul of the "government's" vaccination efforts. 

 

Hoepful things will loosen up ~ September-ish.

 

 

 

 

 

Some hospitals have reached out to patient lists to check interest,Bumrungrad for example.However I was talking about the lack of any information on websites.

The hospital you refer to was reprimanded because it was effectively advertising a product which not authorised by the Thai government.Nor at that time were private sector organisations to authorised to sell.Again irrelevant to lack of information on websites.

You are in error to suggest a holding position on a hospital website is "useless". It informs the interested customer that this is the place to check from time to time.Perhaps also inviting those interested to sign up when info is available.

Having said that I think you are onto something in suggesting the private sector is lying low for the time being not only for the reason you mention but because the whole subject has become politicised and thus sensitive.