Far-flung U.S. citizens clamour for vaccines from embassies

[snoop1130]

Paul Risley, a U.S. citizen chair of Democrats Abroad, walks with his son during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand May 11, 2021. REUTERS/Jiraporn Kuhakan

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Americans living abroad are asking Washington to send surplus coronavirus shots to overseas embassies so they can get a vaccine in countries where the pace of inoculations is slow and travelling home is difficult.

 

Many of the estimated 8 million Americans living abroad argue they should have the same right to a vaccine as U.S. citizens back home. The U.S. vaccination drive covers all of the population and surplus doses are earmarked for donation to India and other nations.

 

"Vaccines could be provided to U.S. citizens through U.S. embassies and consulates, in particular as many are now re-opening for U.S. citizen services," said Marylouise Serrato, executive director of the advocacy group American Citizens Abroad.

 

The group last month wrote to the U.S. Congress and the State Department saying overseas Americans who file taxes and vote should have the same access to vaccines as U.S. residents.

 

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said this week the U.S. government is focused on the safety of Americans around the world but is not now prepared to provide vaccines.

 

"We have not historically provided private healthcare for Americans living overseas, so that remains our policy," Psaki told reporters. "But I don't have anything to predict in terms of what may be ahead."

 

Many Americans overseas are travelling home if they can to be vaccinated or waiting for the inoculation campaign in their countries of residence. But those living in places where vaccine rollouts are slower or where travel is difficult say they feel stuck.

 

In Thailand, four U.S. citizens' groups on May 6 wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking for the Southeast Asian country to be made a pilot project for global vaccination of Americans abroad.

 

Thailand is in the midst of a deadly third wave of coronavirus, after a year of successfully containment, and its mass vaccination drive doesn't begin until next month.

 

"JUST FORGOTTEN"

 

The U.S. State Department last month said it had already shipped doses to embassies and consulates in 220 locations worldwide to vaccinate its own diplomats and other employees.

 

The diplomatic distribution shows that the U.S. government has the capacity to do the same for citizens, said local chapters of the Democrats Abroad, Republicans Overseas, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Women's Club in Thailand.

 

"We are tax-paying, voting U.S. citizens and we were promised that we would be eligible to be vaccinated by our government, and here we are being just forgotten," said business owner Peter Fischbach, in Thailand for nearly 30 years.

 

He worries it may be weeks or months before he can get a shot in Thailand. His business obligations - plus Thailand's strict two-week quarantine for people entering the country - make it unfeasible to return to the United States.

 

The U.S. Embassy in Bangkok declined to comment. There are no official figures on Americans living in Thailand, but Democrats Abroad estimates it as tens of thousands.

 

Financial tech worker Aaron Kruse, 32, was working in China along with his South African fiancee when the pandemic struck. The couple travelled to Cape Town, South Africa, where travel restrictions and then the South African variant of the virus have now derailed their plans.

 

"So now we're very much stuck," said Kruse, who is from Des Moines, Iowa.

 

South African's American expatriate community has not made a formal request, as in Thailand, but even without such a request Kruse says he thinks U.S. embassies should provide vaccines to Americans in need.

 

But he also supports donating shots to needy countries and is keenly aware that should the U.S. bring in vaccines for its own citizens - this would be criticised.

 

"I do kind of see it as special treatment," he said.

 

"But at the same time, if the United States is looking out for U.S. citizens, and we have a surplus of vaccines, then the next place to look for U.S. citizens must be where they live and reside overseas."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-05-12

 

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[scubascuba3]

He's right of course, embassies should be doing this for all foreigners but won't because they spend all day avoiding work

[placeholder]

8 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

He's right of course, embassies should be doing this for all foreigners but won't because they spend all day avoiding work

I don't know what countries you're referring to, but I've been to the US embassy a few times and it didn't look like anyone was slacking off to me. I did get prompt, polite and consistently intelligent service and assistance from the employees. Same experience with the consulate.Just maybe, they don't have the time  or training to turn themselves into a health clinic.

[sqwakvfr]

Logistically not feasible.  What would an embassy do?  Set up a mass vaccination site on embassy grounds?  Not likely.  Security to enter any US Embassy(especially now) is cumbersome.  Also, the embassy would then have o set up a process to register, verify and book time slots for the vaccination.  Could the embassy hire local medical staff to vaccinate only it's citizens?  It could turn into a diplomatic nightmare.  If it got really bad in any country the only real assistance the embassy would provide is emergency evacuation(anyone remember those flights from Japan to Travis Air Force Base in 2020?).  Of course even embassy operated evacuations are not free.  As I recall the US Embassy charged each evacuated person from Japan approximately $4400.  

 

This is issue is Dead on Arrival.  

[clivebaxter]

5 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

Logistically not feasible.  What would an embassy do?  Set up a mass vaccination site on embassy grounds?  Not likely.  Security to enter any US Embassy(especially now) is cumbersome.  Also, the embassy would then have o set up a process to register, verify and book time slots for the vaccination.  Could the embassy hire local medical staff to vaccinate only it's citizens?  It could turn into a diplomatic nightmare.  If it got really bad in any country the only real assistance the embassy would provide is emergency evacuation(anyone remember those flights from Japan to Travis Air Force Base in 2020?).  Of course even embassy operated evacuations are not free.  As I recall the US Embassy charged each evacuated person from Japan approximately $4400.  

 

This is issue is Dead on Arrival.  

They could do it down the road at the Red Cross HQ, loads of room inside and out

[placeholder]

16 minutes ago, clivebaxter said:

They could do it down the road at the Red Cross HQ, loads of room inside and out

Who is they? The embassies of which countries? Is the Thai Red Cross meant to be coopted in the interests of expats? Has it no other functions to perform?

[RobMuir]

Good news for @Jingthing

 

See what can be accomplished from simply contacting your local embassy.

 

 

[asiacurious]

1 hour ago, sqwakvfr said:

Logistically not feasible.  What would an embassy do?  Set up a mass vaccination site on embassy grounds?  Not likely.  Security to enter any US Embassy(especially now) is cumbersome.  Also, the embassy would then have o set up a process to register, verify and book time slots for the vaccination.  Could the embassy hire local medical staff to vaccinate only it's citizens?  It could turn into a diplomatic nightmare.  If it got really bad in any country the only real assistance the embassy would provide is emergency evacuation(anyone remember those flights from Japan to Travis Air Force Base in 2020?).  Of course even embassy operated evacuations are not free.  As I recall the US Embassy charged each evacuated person from Japan approximately $4400.  

 

This is issue is Dead on Arrival.  

 

Logistically very feasible.  How many expats from the US do you think there are in Thailand?  No need to enter very far onto the grounds.  Set up a big tent outside of the buildings.  Safer for unvaccinated people to not congregate inside of buildings anyway.  Appointment system?  Are you kidding?  This is so easy to do.  Easy to automate confirmation emails.  Military medics can be brought in to administer vaccines if needed, but local nurses could also be hired.

[Jingthing]

Five words:

Johnson and Johnson One Jab

[asiacurious]

When it comes to the US government vaccinating it's citizens abroad, the question should not be, "can they?"   The question should be, "why aren't they?"

 

Why such a can't do attitude on these pages?!  

[Jingthing]

Its better for this issue to be led by democrats abroad because democrats are in power now. So don't look a gift donkey in the mouth.

 

 

I have an idea. Expats could contact their stateside friends and relatives and ask them to contact their representatives. We all know out of sight out of mind but stateside people command more attention.

[VocalNeal]

Why do Americans think their Embassy is a hospital. 

[Misty]

30 minutes ago, asiacurious said:

When it comes to the US government vaccinating it's citizens abroad, the question should not be, "can they?"   The question should be, "why aren't they?"

 

Why such a can't do attitude on these pages?!  

Should be a cakewalk for a country that can organize Cobra Gold in the middle of a pandemic. 

[asiacurious]

8 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Why do Americans think their Embassy is a hospital. 

 

What a silly question!  Sort of like asking, "Why do Americans think their Embassy is a law office or bank?"

 

Simple answer to both questions: They don't.

 

 

 

[sqwakvfr]

"Logistically very feasible.  How many expats from the US do you think there are in Thailand?  No need to enter very far onto the grounds.  Set up a big tent outside of the buildings.  Safer for unvaccinated people to not congregate inside of buildings anyway.  Appointment system?  Are you kidding?  This is so easy to do.  Easy to automate confirmation emails.  Military medics can be brought in to administer vaccines if needed, but local nurses could also be hired."

 

1) The exact number is unknown.  Could be at least 25,000?

2) US Embassies, in order to enter, have probably the tightest security protocols.  "A big tent"? On Wireless Road? 

3) Appointment system?  How long is the wait now for s simple service at the US Embassy or Consulate.  For passport renewals the US Embassy has been pushing mail in in order to discourage people from coming to the embassy for in person services

4) Nothing is "easy" when it comes to anything involving the US Embassy

5) Military Medics? From where?  The nearest US Military base with medics is probably in Japan or S. Korea.  The embassy reports to the State Department and Military Medics are under the control of the Defense Department.  This would require cooperation between DOS and DOD(sometimes not so much)

6) Local Nurses?  How would the Thai Government feel about that?  

7) The odds of an Embassy that charges $50 for a Notary stamp and no longer issues income letters taking on  this type of mission is Slim and none.  

 

As an American who has lived in several countries I have always felt rather unwelcome whenever I went to US Embassies.  This includes Thailand, Kuwait, Haiti, Kabul and Baghdad.  

[Chris888]

Only a Democrat would think that US Embassies around the World would supply a vaccine. Always wanting something free.

[bristolgeoff]

Why not they are entitled to vacines  from the us as if they were in the states.Same should apply to other nations too

[Chris888]

Rob Muir - who says the guy is probably a Republican. He says they see it as unnecessary, as a weakness and infringing on their right.     Note Rob Muir - if you could read it says he is Paul Risley, a U.S. citizen, chair of Democrats Abroad, walks with his son during an interview with Reuters in Bangkok, Thailand May 11, 2021. Democrats can't even get something right when its spelled out for them. 

[Phulublub]

12 minutes ago, Chris888 said:

Only a Democrat would think that US Embassies around the World would supply a vaccine. Always wanting something free.

Free?  I was given to understand that all US Citizens, wherever they live, are required to pay US Federal taxes on their worldwide income.  Or is that wrong?

 

No idea whether embassies (US or others) giving jabs is good or not - I can see pros and cons both for and against.

 

PH

[Khun Paul]

8 hours ago, asiacurious said:

 

What a silly question!  Sort of like asking, "Why do Americans think their Embassy is a law office or bank?"

 

Simple answer to both questions: They don't.

 

 

 

True finding a sensible thinking American is difficult, you live here abide by the rules which he is not and wait just like everyone else. He no more special than anyone else . Wants mothering by his own country, <deleted> off back there then.  

[MasterBaker]

not going to happen, however giving away surplus to other country, while forgetting your own taxpayers is propostorous

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies about the British Embassy and obesity have been removed.

 

Some troll posts were removed. 

[charmonman]

35 minutes ago, Chris888 said:

Only a Democrat would think that US Embassies around the World would supply a vaccine. Always wanting something free.

Well, its free for US citizens residing in the US. Or are you against that as well?

[riverhigh]

The strong arguement in favor of Americans living abroad is that they pay taxes on their worldly income and are obliged to live by the USA regulations. It's a two street: pay taxes, receive benefit.

[charmonman]

39 minutes ago, Chris888 said:

Only a Democrat would think that US Embassies around the World would supply a vaccine. Always wanting something free.

If you bothered reading the article and could put aside your petty partisan views for a few seconds, you might have noticed that one of the four groups asking for this is Republicans Overseas. So I guess Republicans always want something free too.

[Dustdevil]

11 hours ago, placeholder said:

I don't know what countries you're referring to, but I've been to the US embassy a few times and it didn't look like anyone was slacking off to me. I did get prompt, polite and consistently intelligent service and assistance from the employees. Same experience with the consulate.Just maybe, they don't have the time  or training to turn themselves into a health clinic.

Same here. They went out of their way for me at the Abu Dhabi embassy.

[d2b2]

I did contact the American embassy by email in this regard. I received a form reply that was the same as the information provided on the website. I replied to the email asking for further clarification and promptly received a professional and polite phone call from the embassy. The answers were not what I had hoped for, but they were responsive to my requests for information. The embassy staff had not yet been vaccinated at the time of the call and they did not expect any change in State Department policy regarding American taxpayers living abroad. They were hopeful that Thailand would soon be able to provide Americans with vaccine choices soon. Again, they were responsive, polite and professional.

[Dustdevil]

19 minutes ago, charmonman said:

Well, its free for US citizens residing in the US. Or are you against that as well?

Of course he/she is, unless they think the virus is a hoax and the vaccine is deadly.

[starky]

Pompous, self entitled ......

[DUNROAMIN]

Get in line with all the other expats, what makes you think you more special than everybody else.