Phuket’s speedy vaccine rollout - 50% of population already vaccinated

[webfact]

Picture: Phuket Hot News

 

There has been a lot written about the delays in people receiving the vaccine in Thailand.

 

However, in Phuket, the speedy rollout of the vaccine means the island is now well on course to reach its target of vaccinating 70% of the local population ahead of its planned re-opening to foreign tourists on July 1.

 

On Thursday (May 27), Phuket governor Narong Woonciew revealed that 50% of the local population of Phuket have already been vaccinated. 

 

And if all those who have registered receive the vaccination, then 65% of the island will have been vaccinated.

 

Narong thanked people in Phuket for their cooperation in receiving the vaccination.

 

However, he said that another drive will now take place to ensure the remaining people will be vaccinated, Phuket Hot News reported. 

 

This includes some 80,000 people who have not yet registered to receive the vaccine.

 

Village headmen and volunteers will go door-to-door inviting people to register. Those who register will be able to receive the first dose of the vaccine immediately, the governor said. 

 

As well as at public hospitals, there are six locations in Phuket where locals can get innoculated: Saphan Hin gymnasium, the Angsana Laguna Phuket Hotel, Phuket Orchid Resort and Spa Karon, X Terminal at Phuket Airport, the Jungceylon Shopping Center and Central Phuket Floresta.

 

A total of 310,000 people will be vaccinated before the island reopens to tourists on July 1, the governor said. 

 

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[ourmanflint]

If this means they have all just had 1st dose of sinovac, they will need to keep going until 70% have had 2nd dose. Sinovac not that great until 2nd dose

[madmen]

4 minutes ago, ourmanflint said:

If this means they have all just had 1st dose of sinovac, they will need to keep going until 70% have had 2nd dose. Sinovac not that great until 2nd dose

Tourists will have 2 dose and 2 negative swabs. Risk will be minimal but of course whatever vax they used will need 2 dose eventually just like everywhere else. 

 

 

[Geoffggi]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

On Thursday (May 27), Phuket governor Narong Woonciew revealed that 50% of the local population of Phuket have already been vaccinated. 

Other places could possibly say the same thing if Phuket had not commandeered all the vaccine ........... 

[grandpa]

Whoopee-do! And what about all those elderly and vulnerable people in other parts of the country who are having to go without at the expense of the unlikely "cash-cow" of the Blackpool of Thailand! I guess that they are just expendable as long as Phuket is ok.

 

How come citizens of Phuket require only one shot of vaccine to allow tourists to come in, but those who may or may not (probably not, if they have any sense) wish to enter, have to have 2 shots!

 

As they will presumably have to wear masks outside their rooms, it could make for some interesting sun tan marks, and also, how do you swim with a mask on, unless you are diving of course!

[Aarin]

So locals only need 1 jab by July.. but tourists need to have had 2 and then still they are nor not free to roam around everywhere and if 2 jabs is safe then no need for those tourists to wear a mask cirrect???????? 

[ikke1959]

1. It would be much better if other groups as teachers, who will stand in front of at least 25-50 kids a day are being vaccinated instead of the population of an island where maybe a handful of tourists will come to sit in their hotelroom.

[MasterBaker]

is it 2 jabs, cause until then it's not vaccinated at all

[fdsa]

I want to get vaccinated too. Does anyone know where I could purchase a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine?

[wensiensheng]

Based on the official figures released a few days ago, the 50% have only had 1 jab. Impossible for it to be both because of the need to wait 6 to 8 weeks for the second.

 

I knew the numbers would be fudged so as to make it look like everything is hunky dory for 1st July. 
 

not that I care, it’s their island, their citizens. Fudge away and be damned.

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

And if all those who have registered receive the vaccination, then 65% of the island will have been vaccinated.

I'm confused, how can you reach a target 70% if only 65% come forwards ? 

[Guderian]

1 hour ago, ourmanflint said:

If this means they have all just had 1st dose of sinovac, they will need to keep going until 70% have had 2nd dose. Sinovac not that great until 2nd dose

 

It's probably going to need more like three doses, perhaps even four. The UAE has depended on Sinovac and have been giving third doses as two didn't produce enough of an immune response in most people.

[crazykopite]

One shot does not protect you especially if it’s the one donated by Thailand’s friends the Chinese Regime even my Chinese neighbour won’t have it that has got to say something .

[Pattaya Spotter]

I just met a landlady in Phuket this morning for a place I'm considering renting and she had just returned from getting her second jab.

Edited May 28, 2021 by Pattaya Spotter

[tigerfeet]

1 hour ago, ourmanflint said:

If this means they have all just had 1st dose of sinovac, they will need to keep going until 70% have had 2nd dose. Sinovac not that great until 2nd dose

That's very good but what about the thousands who will come from all over Thailand once it opens up to tourists no way this will work it should be all or nothing .

[sqwakvfr]

Phuket will be a good test case to see if Sinovac offers protection.  Also, imagine if hotel workers, taxi drivers  and restaurant workers who have been vaccinated with Sinovac come into close contact with Chinese tourist who have also been vaccinated with Sinovac and see what happens.  

 

I am skeptical.  For me it is Pfizer, Moderna, J&J or bust.  I will stay away from Phuket until I am fully vaccinated with the three I mentioned.  So far it appears Pfizer and Moderna  both  offer pretty good protection.  

 

 

[Cadan]

1 hour ago, madmen said:

Tourists will have 2 dose and 2 negative swabs. Risk will be minimal but of course whatever vax they used will need 2 dose eventually just like everywhere else. 

 

 

ONLY SHORT TIME OK

[madmen]

This is how these threads have panned out over time on TV 

 

1. Why do have to have quarantine and vaccinated tourists? just negative swab enough open border now tourists people are starving! 

 

And now 

2. Everything has to be perfect 100%! Or no open! 

 

Seems like TV posters change there mind more than thai officialdom 

 

There has to be give and take and sandbox is the only way to test that on a few tourists and not bang on high season. IMO only 

Edited May 28, 2021 by madmen

[Cadan]

I have no doubt Phuket will be the Sandbox to start of the travel season. Lets hope the Europeans are flexible enough to book last minute flights and hotels. It will be a blessing for many to see finally light at the end of the tunnel.

[DavisH]

32 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Based on the official figures released a few days ago, the 50% have only had 1 jab. Impossible for it to be both because of the need to wait 6 to 8 weeks for the second.

 

I knew the numbers would be fudged so as to make it look like everything is hunky dory for 1st July. 
 

not that I care, it’s their island, their citizens. Fudge away and be damned.

3-4 weeks for Sinovac.

[bkk6060]

With the 50 % efficacy rate from some studies on Sinovac.

The fact many people do not want to get it.

And, most concerning I think is the potential for fraud involving proof of vaccination.  Even the US proof of vaccination document that I have seen looks pretty flimsy making fraudulent ones probably will not be very difficult.

Good luck Phuket.

Edited May 28, 2021 by bkk6060

[Cake Monster]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

A total of 310,000 people will be vaccinated before the island reopens to tourists on July 1, the governor said. 

310,000 people is not even 50 % of the population on Phuket.

The population stands at 660,000

And is that 310,000 with only one shot each.

Only 2 Days ago the Governor was pleading for more Vaccines, and hey ! what do you know, they mysteriously appear.

I really have a big problem believing any of this, and think the sand Box idea was going to run even if only 2 people had been Vaccinated.

[wensiensheng]

7 minutes ago, DavisH said:

3-4 weeks for Sinovac.

Thanks for correcting me.

 

doesn’t change the situation though, there still hasn’t been time to give a second jab to those who had the first two weeks ago.

[PEE TEE]

Samui is on second day of vaccines for Thais 18 to 59 using sinovac . i had a look around and both sites very little turn out. i think they allocated slots for 1500 people maybe they only got less than half . the time was almost due to close . 

A few farang guys were having a talk to say that lots of vaccine is left over could they get  

a chance of a jab all under 40 i would say . But No they were turned away Thais only. it would make more sense if they took details and done the job but no way . 

[PEE TEE]

47 minutes ago, fdsa said:

I want to get vaccinated too. Does anyone know where I could purchase a Moderna or Pfizer vaccine?

Have to wait for the private hospitals to get the vaccines i recon September October ? if before I'm in to get it done should be around 3000thb for the 2 jabs choice of vaccine also 

[Call]

Fake news. Living on Phuket I can tell, only people registrerad in a housebook or have letter from company (paying social security) got the vaccin. 3 of my Thai friends got kicked out from there vaccination registration due to this.

The 70% will never be 70%. 

[anchadian]

On Thursday (May 27), Phuket governor Narong Woonciew revealed that 50% of the local population of Phuket have already been vaccinated. 

----------------

 

I trust therefore that all those over 60 yrs of age and those with underlying health conditions have all been fully vaccinated.

[taxin]

35 minutes ago, tigerfeet said:

That's very good but what about the thousands who will come from all over Thailand once it opens up to tourists no way this will work it should be all or nothing .

It will not happen, Phuket is a big province with a population bigger than you think. There is more than enough workers currently waiting in Phuket, ready to service what will only be a hand full of tourists,

 

The arrival numbers will be so low it will barely make a difference to the unemployment rate in Phuket.

[bougnat]

If no tourist lands, they can say that the operation is a total success. No new infection due to opening ...

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

However, in Phuket, the speedy rollout of the vaccine means the island is now well on course to reach its target of vaccinating 70% of the local population ahead of its planned re-opening to foreign tourists on July 1.

So they get the vaccines while the rest of the country including Bangkok suffer.