'Worth it': American expat in Thailand travels to Guam for vaccine, vacation

[webfact]

Reuben Sushman

Haidee Eugenio Gilbert

 

Haidee Eugenio Gilbert | The Guam Daily Post

 

Like most Americans, Reuben Sushman is eligible to get his COVID-19 vaccine shot. But he's living in Thailand, where only 1% of the population has so far been vaccinated, so there's no telling when he will be able to get his shot.

 

After weighing all his options, he flew to Guam in mid-April not only to get a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-authorized COVID-19 vaccine, but also to get a vacation.

 

As a businessman, he's able to continue working remotely from his hotel room during the 14-day quarantine, so no time was wasted, he said.

 

In Thailand, he said, he's had difficulty getting a vaccine and had to rely on a vaccine brand that the host country provides.

 

"It's all worth it," Sushman said, of going the extra mile to travel to Guam to get vaccinated.

 

Full story: https://www.postguam.com/news/local/worth-it-american-expat-in-thailand-travels-to-guam-for-vaccine-vacation/article_ac7f7318-abd2-11eb-937e-5fd49dc227e8.html

 

-- © Copyright The Guam Daily Post 2021-05-04

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[Ventenio]

The average expat in Thailand worries about currency fluctuations and is on a fixed income.

 

This guy appears to have some disposable income, a rare thing for the falang.

 

I just got some  noodle soup and saved 5 baht!!!!  I'm not flying to Guam.  

[mtls2005]

So six weeks minimum: two weeks for Guam quarantine, then four weeks between the two Pfizer shots.

 

And if Thailand were still on plan (no quarantine for the vaccinated), another two weeks waiting for the vaccine to kick in, we're up to eight weeks now.

 

 

[bkk6060]

19 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

So six weeks minimum: two weeks for Guam quarantine, then four weeks between the two Pfizer shots.

 

And if Thailand were still on plan (no quarantine for the vaccinated), another two weeks waiting for the vaccine to kick in, we're up to eight weeks now.

 

 

It is almost the same if a person goes any where but no quarantine in the U.S. just a negative test.

21 days between shots.

15 days to wait for COE.

14 days quarantine if you get back here.

 

Basically close to 2 months of nothingness.

 

 

 

 

[1FinickyOne]

10 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

 

Basically close to 2 months of nothingness

sounds like life as usual for many...

[tonray]

7 minutes ago, 1FinickyOne said:

sounds like life as usual for many...

You've been spying on me...

[Jeffr2]

16 minutes ago, bkk_bwana said:

This is newsworthy?

 

Many people are considering doing this.  And many have already done it.  I know of several people who've got back to the US specifically to get a vaccine.  Plus, you can visit family and friends, etc.

 

It kinda made sense when they announced the Phuket quarantine bubble.  You could quarantine for 7 days if you had a jab, and be able to roam around your resort.  Not stuck inside a room for 14 days.

 

Guam is a great place to visit.  Beautiful beaches, great scuba diving, a lot to do.  Hmmm...I might consider this, especially since there's no clarity as to when we can get a jab here.  Seems to be a constantly moving target.

[TaoNow]

Still, if you are sheltering in place -- like you should be -- what is the rush to get the vaccination now until the one you want is available at your local hospital?

[Danderman123]

Easier to fly to the US to get vaccinated. 

[Pattaya Spotter]

He doesn't look too old and seems in reasonably good health...seems a bit extreme for someone living in Thailand, where cases have been so low (and he'd likely be eligible for the free vaccine in a few months), but I'll give him points for being creative in going about getting what he wanted.

Edited May 4, 2021 by Pattaya Spotter

[Poet]

15 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

He doesn't look too old and seems in reasonably good health

Yes, practically zero risk for anyone under 70 and in reasonable health, but the article mentions that he takes international business trips. Getting vaccinated through the US system means he will be eligible for whatever vaccine passport system the Americans come up with, and that will help him to skip quarantines all over the world.

 

[Pattaya Spotter]

2 minutes ago, Poet said:

Yes, practically zero risk for anyone under 70 and in reasonable health, but the article mentions that he takes international business trips. Getting vaccinated through the US system means he will be eligible for whatever vaccine passport system the Americans come up with, and that will help him to skip quarantines all over the world.

 

Maybe...though there has been nothing concrete about "vaccine passports" and if/which countries will accept them. 

[aussiexpat]

An American travels to an American territory for a vacation and while there gets a Covid shot. How is this news other than he's an idiot for willing to do quarantine on his way back?

 

Edited May 4, 2021 by aussiexpat

[Jeffr2]

38 minutes ago, aussiexpat said:

An American travels to an American territory for a vacation and while there gets a Covid shot. How is this news other than he's an idiot for willing to do quarantine on his way back?

 

Why an idiot?  He's a businessman who needs the jab so he can do his job.  And he's going to Dubai for business shortly after he's out of quarantine.  Makes sense especially when he's got no idea when he'll get a jab here.

 

Guam's a lovely place to be.  And when he comes back, maybe the Phuket sandbox will be setup?

[Poet]

37 minutes ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Maybe...though there has been nothing concrete about "vaccine passports" and if/which countries will accept them. 

Plans are far advanced in most Western countries because they will absolutely need them for international travel. The only remaining argument is over whether they will be used within each country for events, public transport, restaurants, pubs etc.

 

[aussiexpat]

20 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Why an idiot?  He's a businessman who needs the jab so he can do his job.  And he's going to Dubai for business shortly after he's out of quarantine.  Makes sense especially when he's got no idea when he'll get a jab here.

 

Guam's a lovely place to be.  And when he comes back, maybe the Phuket sandbox will be setup?

So if he's going to Dubai why do Thailand quarantine and he could have got the jab in the UAE, one of the most highly vaccinated places in the World?

 

Btw, I've been to Guam and loved it, so no negativity there just wondering why its news...

[EricTh]

How much is the flight ticket to Guam from Thailand? What about the 14 days hotel quarantine fees?

 

He must be rich.

 

It actually takes 6 hours flight, 12 hours to and fro.

 

Not something that average people would do.

 

Edited May 4, 2021 by EricTh

[aussiexpat]

1 minute ago, EricTh said:

How much is the flight ticket to Guam from Thailand? What about the 14 days hotel quarantine fees?

 

He must be rich.

Or paranoid stupid, likely both???

[wasabi]

If it were easier to come back to Thailand I would do the same. I came very close to returning to the continental US but decided the risk of staying here vs the cost of the whole trip didn't merit leaving. So for now I am back to waiting for Godot in Thailand. 

[MasterBaker]

6 hours ago, Ventenio said:

The average expat in Thailand worries about currency fluctuations and is on a fixed income.

why would anyone worry about currency fluctuation? if you on a fixed income, you should know that Thailand is on currency manipulation list and baht was in a very tight range for last 15 years

[aussiexpat]

21 minutes ago, MasterBaker said:

why would anyone worry about currency fluctuation? if you on a fixed income, you should know that Thailand is on currency manipulation list and baht was in a very tight range for last 15 years

Obviously you don't worry about currency exchange. For the rest of us, this is the A$ over last 10 years

 

33 baht to 18 is not a tight range

 

Edited May 4, 2021 by aussiexpat

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

And when he comes back, maybe the Phuket sandbox will be setup?

I predict this will never happen.

[BritManToo]

3 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Maybe...though there has been nothing concrete about "vaccine passports" and if/which countries will accept them. 

 ...... or which country will accept which vaccine.

[Aomelia]

5 hours ago, Jeffr2 said:

Many people are considering doing this.  And many have already done it.  I know of several people who've got back to the US specifically to get a vaccine.  Plus, you can visit family and friends, etc.

 

It kinda made sense when they announced the Phuket quarantine bubble.  You could quarantine for 7 days if you had a jab, and be able to roam around your resort.  Not stuck inside a room for 14 days.

 

Guam is a great place to visit.  Beautiful beaches, great scuba diving, a lot to do.  Hmmm...I might consider this, especially since there's no clarity as to when we can get a jab here.  Seems to be a constantly moving target.

I just booked Japan Airlines RT $800 dollars  SWEET...and Changeable ticket also 

[Aomelia]

4 hours ago, Danderman123 said:

Easier to fly to the US to get vaccinated. 

Probably cheaper 800 bucks RT SFO to BKK can change dates also 

[Bob4u]

7 hours ago, Ventenio said:

The average expat in Thailand worries about currency fluctuations and is on a fixed income.

 

This guy appears to have some disposable income, a rare thing for the falang.

 

I just got some  noodle soup and saved 5 baht!!!!  I'm not flying to Guam.  

 

 

Actually many of us planned our retirement properly and did not come here to penny pinch .

 

He mad a smart decision to get a 1st world Covid vaccination and not the rubbish people are subjected to here when it never becomes available.

[Aomelia]

5 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

 ...... or which country will accept which vaccine.

I would be cautious about getting Chinese or Russian I don’t think can travel on those too much , then China blocking people with Pfizer or moderno etc Boycott China anyways  

[Danderman123]

3 minutes ago, Aomelia said:

Probably cheaper 800 bucks RT SFO to BKK can change dates also 

My flight was cheaper, and the Moderna vaccine was free.

[Aomelia]

Just now, Danderman123 said:

My flight was cheaper, and the Moderna vaccine was free.

Well it will be free when I get there they have loads 

[Bob4u]

Both my Moderna vaccinations were totally free in USA.