Uncertainty over availability of COVID-19 vaccinations for expats in Thailand 

 

REUTERS FILE PHOTO for reference only

 

As the Thai government gears up to start vaccinating citizens against COVID-19, it is far from certain when (or even if) vaccinations will be available for expats in Thailand. 

 

Thailand’s vaccination program begins in February with frontline healthcare workers and those deemed most vulnerable to be among the first to be vaccinated.

 

Those located in areas deemed to be ‘high risk’, such as Samut Sakohon, Bangkok, Chonburi, Chantanburi, Trat and Rayong will be among the first recipients.

 

From May, vaccinations will then start to be given to the general population with the Thai government saying it aims to vaccinate 30 million people by the end of the year.

 

In early 2022, in what will be the third phase of vaccinations, 70% of the general population will be vaccinated so that herd immunity can be developed, Thailand’s Disease Control Department has said. 

 

Thailand has ordered 61 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which will be produced by local firm, Siam Bioscience for domestic use and export, as well as also ordering a million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac, which it expects to receive the first 200,000 doses next month.

 

However, when the vaccinations will be available to expats in Thailand is not known.

 

Expats who work in Thailand and pay into the social security system may be eligible for a vaccination but the situation is yet to be clarified by the Thai government.

 

On Wednesday, the British Embassy in Bangkok posted on Thaivisa to confirm that as yet, it has no instructions regarding vaccinations for British nationals in Thailand. 

 

Posting courtesy of the exclusive agreement the British Embassy Consular Team has with Thaivisa, the Embassy said:

 

“We really appreciate what a worrying time this is, and how important it is to have the right information about vaccines. At the moment there aren't any additional instructions for Brits living overseas. As soon as we have any, we will let you know in this forum and via our Travel Advice.

 

“We would also encourage you to subscribe and receive email alerts that will include changes in travel restrictions and other COVID-19 related updates. Here is the link: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand”

 

*if you wish to ask the British Embassy Consular Team a question, you can do so here

 

Meanwhile, for Americans in Thailand, the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok recently revealed that the US government has no plans to provide vaccinations for its citizens overseas. 

 

“As part of our efforts to give U.S. citizens timely information so that they can make informed choices about travel abroad, the Department advises that the United States government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas”, the US Embassy said in an alert.

 

“U.S. citizens traveling or residing overseas should follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination”.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-01-14

 

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Thailand has authorized importation of approved vaccine by private hospitals (when there is an approval) so it should be available for those who can afford.

8 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Thailand has authorized importation of approved vaccine by private hospitals (when there is an approval) so it should be available for those who can afford.

Exactly. I think this thread is just stirring up worry for no reason. 
 

If an expat can’t afford a covid shot, they shouldn’t be in Thailand. I am sure the 800,000 for retirement visa or 400,000 for marriage visa money will more than cover it. 
if they are on a working visa that will also cover it. 
Some will expect it for free I am sure.
 

I am happy to wait my turn and do whatever the thai authorities ask us to do. Give it to the frontline health workers first, then all the oldies and fat people.

 

If they require us all to eventually vaccinated then we will, it is their country, their rules. 
 

And they have been very successful handling it, much better than western countries, so we are not really in the position to start complaining and telling them how to handle it. 
 

I am sure some will. They then have to make a choice. Do what Anutin tells us to do or find some other country to live in.

22 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Thailand has authorized importation of approved vaccine by private hospitals (when there is an approval) so it should be available for those who can afford.

I imagine vaccination will be a part of a new visa requirement , 'so get it or go home' will be the new immigration mantra. 

34 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

I imagine vaccination will be a part of a new visa requirement , 'so get it or go home' will be the new immigration mantra. 

Probably not too much different from what many other countries will do.  Don't have the jab, don't come to my country.

 

32 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Probably not too much different from what many other countries will do.  Don't have the jab, don't come to my country.

This is complete fear mongering nonsense. The WTTC said the other day that its discrimination and not necessary. The CEO of AirAsia backed up these statements.  No country is going to want to kill its travel industry. Personally i would never in a million years consider injecting any "covid" vaccine.

 

Edited January 14, 20215 yr by at15

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Those located in areas deemed to be ‘high risk’, such as Samut Sakohon, Bangkok, Chonburi, Chantanburi, Trat and Rayong will be among the first recipients. ...

also ordering a million doses of Sinovac's CoronaVac, which it expects to receive the first 200,000 doses next month.

 

bangkok is not in a red zone, but samut prakan was included just a few days ago (this province is almost part od bangkok, bkk airport is there).

thailand has ordered 2mln of sinovac, not just 1mln.

those 2mln would be enough for front line workers and vulnerable (I do think that would include also foreigners, just matter of registering with local health authorities as soon as possible).

 

For a working expat, earning on an average 50k/month, a few thousands baht for atrazeneca and sinovac or up to 10k for pfizer is really nothing. It would allow to jump and escape the third wave, before employers and the government allow them to get free one.

 

at least 4 private hospitals in bangkok are trying to get up to 50k vax each, so it should be enough for a while.

Even if expensive for some pensioners, their insurance might cover at least part of expenses    

11 minutes ago, at15 said:

 

This is complete fear mongering nonsense. The WTTC said the other day that its discrimination and not necessary. The CEO of AirAsia backed up these statements.  No country is going to want to kill its travel industry. Personally i would never in a million years consider injecting any "covid" vaccine.

 

You don't read travel news much, eh?  Just one of dozens of articles about this.  And as we're reading here, Thailand will probably adopt this also.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2020/11/23/vaccination-passport-qantas-looking-new-requirement-travelers/6402846002/

In Australia, the boss of Qantas, the country's largest airline, said that once a virus vaccine becomes widely available, his carrier will likely require passengers use it before they can travel abroad or land in Australia.

Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said he's been talking to his counterparts at other airlines around the world about the possibility of a “vaccination passport” for international travelers.

13 minutes ago, at15 said:

 

This is complete fear mongering nonsense. The WTTC said the other day that its discrimination and not necessary. The CEO of AirAsia backed up these statements.  No country is going to want to kill its travel industry. Personally i would never in a million years consider injecting any "covid" vaccine.

 

This guy has some of the most up to date info on international travel.  We already have a yellow book that shows all your jabs.  A necessity when traveling in Africa today anyway.  Especially for Yellow fever.  So this will be nothing new.

 

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/covid-vaccine-passport/

In late November, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced it was developing the IATA Travel Pass, a digital health pass that will include a traveler’s test and vaccination certificates. A standardized health pass of some sort will likely prove to be necessary, given that travelers have already found ways to defeat testing by faking negative COVID-19 results.

 

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

You don't read travel news much, eh?  Just one of dozens of articles about this.  And as we're reading here, Thailand will probably adopt this also.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2020/11/23/vaccination-passport-qantas-looking-new-requirement-travelers/6402846002/

In Australia, the boss of Qantas, the country's largest airline, said that once a virus vaccine becomes widely available, his carrier will likely require passengers use it before they can travel abroad or land in Australia.

Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said he's been talking to his counterparts at other airlines around the world about the possibility of a “vaccination passport” for international travelers.

I read travel news everyday. I saw that weeks ago. Tyrannical nonsense , some airlines CEO giving his opinion on the matter. Its not up to airlines, only governments. Who will follow what the IATA, WTTC, and WHO put out. Which is always testing remains the only way.

3 minutes ago, at15 said:

I read travel news everyday. I saw that weeks ago. Tyrannical nonsense , some airlines CEO giving his opinion on the matter. Its not up to airlines, only governments. Who will follow what the IATA, WTTC, and WHO put out. Which is always testing remains the only way.

Right.  An airline CEO talking nonsense...talk about nonsense. 

 

Did you read how they can get around testing?  Guess not...probably in the travel news you read everyday.

1 hour ago, Natai Beach said:

Exactly. I think this thread is just stirring up worry for no reason. 
 

If an expat can’t afford a covid shot, they shouldn’t be in Thailand. I am sure the 800,000 for retirement visa or 400,000 for marriage visa money will more than cover it. 
if they are on a working visa that will also cover it. 
Some will expect it for free I am sure.
 

I am happy to wait my turn and do whatever the thai authorities ask us to do. Give it to the frontline health workers first, then all the oldies and fat people.

 

If they require us all to eventually vaccinated then we will, it is their country, their rules. 
 

And they have been very successful handling it, much better than western countries, so we are not really in the position to start complaining and telling them how to handle it. 
 

I am sure some will. They then have to make a choice. Do what Anutin tells us to do or find some other country to live in.

1. 400,000 or 800,000 is not supposed to be spent on vaccinations! It is supposed to be held in an account!

2. Farang retirees are old and vulnerable!

Airlines and even airports are already beginning to require certification of having been vaccinated to enter. That`s obviously a problem. A problem Thailand probably haven`t thought of yet but soon will. No worries, we`ll get the vaccine. Just wait for the AstraZeneca vaccine.

4 minutes ago, Card said:

1. 400,000 or 800,000 is not supposed to be spent on vaccinations! It is supposed to be held in an account!

2. Farang retirees are old and vulnerable!

1. For three months and then spent on living expenses 

2. If they are vulnerable it might be time to return to the safety net of their home country.

I bet by next month the major private hospitals will have some vaccine program.

Hopefully, the good ones not from China.

The FCCT hosted an online discussion last night on Covid-19 & Thailand's Vaccine Strategy:
 

 

Edited January 14, 20215 yr by Haddo

I will wait and see if the "herd" has any negative effects from a vaccine before taking it. The "Lone Wolf" strategy vs "the herd" has been a viable option for thousands of years.

1 minute ago, bkk6060 said:

I bet by next month the major private hospitals will have some vaccine program.

Hopefully, the good ones not from China.

If you`re talking next month then it`ll likely be the Sinovac (China) vaccine as nothing else is available, unless private hospitals have managed to get any other vaccines by themselves.

 

You`ll most likely have to wait to at least April/May/June for any other vaccines, if we`re going by Thailand`s own schedule. Things may of course change, but I doubt there will be anything else available to the public before April. Vaccines also has to go through an approval process.

2 hours ago, Natai Beach said:

Exactly. I think this thread is just stirring up worry for no reason. 
 

If an expat can’t afford a covid shot, they shouldn’t be in Thailand. I am sure the 800,000 for retirement visa or 400,000 for marriage visa money will more than cover it. 
if they are on a working visa that will also cover it. 
Some will expect it for free I am sure.
 

I am happy to wait my turn and do whatever the thai authorities ask us to do. Give it to the frontline health workers first, then all the oldies and fat people.

 

If they require us all to eventually vaccinated then we will, it is their country, their rules. 
 

And they have been very successful handling it, much better than western countries, so we are not really in the position to start complaining and telling them how to handle it. 
 

I am sure some will. They then have to make a choice. Do what Anutin tells us to do or find some other country to live in.

It's not a matter of cost it's the fact that they're not even saying there will be any to purchase. 

39 minutes ago, at15 said:

I read travel news everyday. I saw that weeks ago. Tyrannical nonsense , some airlines CEO giving his opinion on the matter. Its not up to airlines, only governments. Who will follow what the IATA, WTTC, and WHO put out. Which is always testing remains the only way.

Pretty good chance you're not gonna be travelling much when documentation confirming vaccination will be required, why would n't it become a standard requirement?

I would pay NOT to have it, hopefully Khaosan Road will come up with some classy looking “Covid Vaccine” Certificate ????

Ah, bless. We love you more each day Thailand.

The article says that in 2022, 70% will be vaccinated to “ensure herd immunity”. How does Herd Immunity” come into play AFTER receiving a vaccination.

I think that after the Thai have been vaccinated for 80+%, the small number of farangs do not need any vaccination anymore as the 70+% injection rate for herd immunity has been passed already!

27 minutes ago, Haddo said:

The FCCT hosted an online discussion last night on Covid-19 & Thailand's Vaccine Strategy:
 

 

Interesting. From 8:19 you`ll see a spreadsheet overview on the as-of-now data on the effectiveness of the vaccines. 68% on the AstraZeneca is a bit disappointing but should be said under 70% effectiveness is actually very common for vaccines. I think the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine`s effectiveness will be adjust to a lower number than 90% when more data is available, but if it actually is around 90%, I hope Thailand will be making some effort in securing these vaccines.

3 minutes ago, stereolab said:

The article says that in 2022, 70% will be vaccinated to “ensure herd immunity”. How does Herd Immunity” come into play AFTER receiving a vaccination.

it is in general believed that if 70% of the population is immune or protected for a disease, the chances to create a pandemy  are gone.

One thing for sure. If I have to purchase a vaccine it WONT be the Chinese version.

Thailand still has not managed to secure sufficient vaccines for its own citizens. Expats are unlikely to be able to secure a covid vaccine privately in Thailand this year as all vaccines are in short supply. This is one of the perils of living abroad

43 minutes ago, Natai Beach said:

1. For three months and then spent on living expenses 

2. If they are vulnerable it might be time to return to the safety net of their home country.

Unfortunately, my large four generation family, many of whom I helped raise, educate, and still support  in many ways, won't let me go.

 

What to do?

 

They also asked me to get vaccinated as soon as possible, although I've already provided them as much sars protection as medically possible at this time.

 

Edited January 14, 20215 yr by rabas

Ruthless opportunistic gouging will be inevitable, as T.I.T. So let's hope there will be a total ban on alcohol for a couple of months, so that expats retirees can save a few quids to pay for their two shots.