COVID 19 vaccinations for British Citizens in Thailand

[Angela Poustie]

My husband and I are in our late 70s,

We have paid into thr NHS all our working lives.

Please could the British governmemt vaccinate us>>

18 year olds are being vaccinated , but we pensioners are left out ??

PLEASE

[Havenstreet1940]

 

 

Fear not you are not alone!  I am 83 and feel the same way..    I 

 

 

 

 

fer

[Ian Wake]

Same here, a young 66, fully paid up N.I..........
Neglected and rejected.....

[Excel]

Same here but fear not the British Embassy Consular officials take daily PTFE showers, so nothing remains on them to cause concern.

Edited June 18, 2021 by Excel

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, Angela Poustie said:

My husband and I are in our late 70s,

We have paid into thr NHS all our working lives.

Please could the British governmemt vaccinate us>>

18 year olds are being vaccinated , but we pensioners are left out ??

PLEASE

 

You are not left out.... You just chose to live in a different country and outside of the NHS umbrella. 

 

If you travel back to the UK you will be able to receive the vaccine immediately. 

 

 

Of course, you don’t want to travel back to the UK just for a vaccine - so you have to wait, that is unfortunate, but many Thai’s and other non-Thai’s are in the same situation. 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

12 minutes ago, Ian Wake said:

Same here, a young 66, fully paid up N.I..........
Neglected and rejected.....

 

Why do people believe they are ‘neglected and rejected’ when it was their choice to move away from their home nation. 

 

When you moved to Thailand you knew you did not have health cover provided by the NHS.

 

 

The only issue I see with the vaccine roll out for foreigners is the ’Thai first’ mentality of those in positions of decision making power.

 

It would have been easy for the government to allow all foreigners to register with the Mor Prom app with their passports (and provide the Mor Prom app with an English option) - so that is a problem. 

 

That said, foreigners could register with the Mor Prom with the Pink ID and receive their vaccine - many did.

 

 

 

 

[Havenstreet1940]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Why do people believe they are ‘neglected and rejected’ when it was their choice to move away from their home nation. 

 

When you moved to Thailand you knew you did not have health cover provided by the NHS.

 

 

The only issue I see with the vaccine roll out for foreigners is the ’Thai first’ mentality of those in positions of decision making power.

 

It would have been easy for the government to allow all foreigners to register with the Mor Prom app with their passports (and provide the Mor Prom app with an English option) - so that is a problem. 

 

That said, foreigners could register with the Mor Prom with the Pink ID and receive their vaccine - many did.

 

 

 

 

I take issue with you concerning your last comment which is not correct insofar as I am concerned..  I registered with Mor Prom and was informed there was no vaccine available in my location - I am living in Issan - and to wait for further info.  That was when Mor prom was launched and I am still waiting!

 

I am going home to UK next month and will have my shots because at 83 I don't want to be hanging on any longer.

 

However,  I do acccept the general direction of your comments but you would do well to demonstrate a little more compassion for older folks who rightly are concerned and cannot, for whatever reason, do the same as me.

 

 

[puchooay]

2 hours ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

I am living in Issan

Where in Issan?

 

I know of many expats living in Issan that have already received a vaccine.

[jayboy]

5 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

That said, foreigners could register with the Mor Prom with the Pink ID and receive their vaccine - many did.

 

Most foreigners don't have pink !D cards and most of those that do (including yours truly) were unable to register and receive vaccine.There was no original intention foreigners should be covered by Mor Prom and that explains some of the difficulties people experienced in shoehorning their details in.But well done to those that managed successfully.Foreigners best hope is still I think through Intervac - when it gets its act together.

 

On the positive side I hear that Thais whose vaccinations were cancelled are starting to receive new dates (some as early as next week). Hopefully that will also improve the position for foreigners.

 

As an aside I was watching on BBC the awful predicament of Covid patients in Nepal's hill country - puts our own concerns into some kind of perspective.

 

 

[VBF]

6 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

You are not left out.... You just chose to live in a different country and outside of the NHS umbrella. 

 

If you travel back to the UK you will be able to receive the vaccine immediately. 

 

Of course, you don’t want to travel back to the UK just for a vaccine - so you have to wait, that is unfortunate, but many Thai’s and other non-Thai’s are in the same situation.

Indeed.

And, @Angela Poustie would you expect the NHS to take care of you in Thailand, if you had any serious medical condition, say heart attack or stroke?

Whether rightly or wrongly, once you leave UK, the NHS doesn't cover you for anything nor does it claim to.

I presume you knew that....didn't you?

Edited June 18, 2021 by VBF

[poohy]

Whilst we know NHS does not cover you

 

It is inexcusable that Thailand s not vaccinating by age regardless of nationality as in other countries its not like they haven't had time to prepare .

The general response to organization, enrolment for all people both them and us , vaccines procurement and distribution has been nothing but a shambles a deadly one at that , but those in charge are  both shameless oh and vaccinated so what do they care

The Thai first policy also does not sit well but with the light of the government not surprising

 

I suspect foreigners here will not forget this debacle quickly!

 

[Havenstreet1940]

14 hours ago, puchooay said:

Where in Issan?

 

I know of many expats living in Issan that have already received a vaccine.

Khon Kaen.  I have been to Srinagarind Hospital - no  vaccine but contact again in August. 

To Khon Kaen Government hospital - no vaccine.  Foreigners must wait.

Kranuan Goverment Hospital - no vaccine and Thais before Foreigners.  

Mor Prom - I will get sms - this was at launch of Mor Prom and I'm still waiting.

The Intervac site and we all now what a disaster that has been.

 

I have a Yellow House Book and Pink ID Card which have had no effect.

 

I have also been to both Bangkok and RAM hospital in Khon Kaen, prepared to pay, but both say that they  are not getting any AstraZeneca, and on medical advice because of Anaphylaxis reaction, I currently cannot receive other acredited vaccines.   And no I would not take a Chinese vaccine because it is not recommended for over 59 years of age.   If it's not good enough for the Thai PM, then it's not good enough for me!

Edited June 19, 2021 by Havenstreet1940
spacing

[beano2274]

is the same for all Brits who left our home country, am in Germany, still not vaccinated pay a considerable amount into the German Health Care system.

[richard_smith237]

22 hours ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

I take issue with you concerning your last comment which is not correct insofar as I am concerned..  I registered with Mor Prom and was informed there was no vaccine available in my location - I am living in Issan - and to wait for further info.  That was when Mor prom was launched and I am still waiting!

 

Thai’s were also told there was no vaccine available - Do you want the vaccine ahead of those Thai’s around you who are a similar age and in a similar risk group ?

 

 

22 hours ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

I am going home to UK next month and will have my shots because at 83 I don't want to be hanging on any longer.

 

A sensible decision - It is a shame that the roll out of the vaccines in Thailand has been such a farce. 

Thailand simply did not get enough vaccines early enough - that is quite a failure. 

 

But, foreigners here expecting their governments to offer them privilege are going to be disappointed. 

 

For those in a hurry to receive the vaccine and unable to get the vaccine in Thailand the option is to go back to their home countries and receive the vaccine.

 

22 hours ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

However,  I do acccept the general direction of your comments but you would do well to demonstrate a little more compassion for older folks who rightly are concerned and cannot, for whatever reason, do the same as me.

 

Apologies for the lack of compassion... However, we all made our choice to move to Thailand and step outside of the the umbrella of our home health care systems - that is the fact with or without compassion. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

4 hours ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

Khon Kaen.  I have been to Srinagarind Hospital - no  vaccine but contact again in August. 

To Khon Kaen Government hospital - no vaccine.  Foreigners must wait.

Kranuan Goverment Hospital - no vaccine and Thais before Foreigners.  

Mor Prom - I will get sms - this was at launch of Mor Prom and I'm still waiting.

The Intervac site and we all now what a disaster that has been.

 

I have a Yellow House Book and Pink ID Card which have had no effect.

 

I have also been to both Bangkok and RAM hospital in Khon Kaen, prepared to pay, but both say that they  are not getting any AstraZeneca, and on medical advice because of Anaphylaxis reaction, I currently cannot receive other acredited vaccines.   And no I would not take a Chinese vaccine because it is not recommended for over 59 years of age.   If it's not good enough for the Thai PM, then it's not good enough for me!

 

I’m not aware of any age restriction or recommendation for the Sinovac vaccine - its better than not taking it.

 

Are you allergic to something in the AZ vaccine?  IF so, Sinovac is your only option at the moment/

 

[Havenstreet1940]

33 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

I’m not aware of any age restriction or recommendation for the Sinovac vaccine - its better than not taking it.

 

Are you allergic to something in the AZ vaccine?  IF so, Sinovac is your only option at the moment/

 

Then you will not be aware that way back in March this year the Thai PM cancelled his Sinovac jab and opting at a later date to have the AZ vaccine and the Health minister saying that the reasoning was that Sinvac was not suitable for people over 59.   I accept that this decision has recently been reversed, but I would suggest it is a reversal caused by neccesity rather than sound medical advice.

 

Additionally serious questions are now being raised in Indonesia and Chile regarding the eficiay of Sinovac.    https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/06/17/chinas-sinovac-vaccine-under-scrutiny-as-covid-soars-in-highly-vaccinated-countries/?sh=56f575131444

 

The Allergy I have refers to the Phizer and Moderna vaccines.

[hotandsticky]

15 hours ago, Havenstreet1940 said:

Then you will not be aware that way back in March this year the Thai PM cancelled his Sinovac jab and opting at a later date to have the AZ vaccine and the Health minister saying that the reasoning was that Sinvac was not suitable for people over 59.   I accept that this decision has recently been reversed, but I would suggest it is a reversal caused by neccesity rather than sound medical advice.

 

Additionally serious questions are now being raised in Indonesia and Chile regarding the eficiay of Sinovac.    https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/06/17/chinas-sinovac-vaccine-under-scrutiny-as-covid-soars-in-highly-vaccinated-countries/?sh=56f575131444

 

The Allergy I have refers to the Phizer and Moderna vaccines.

 

 

I have friends in Isaan in their 70's who have successfully completed the two doses of Sinovac.

 

 

Your irrational fear of Sinovac has left you unprotected.

[Havenstreet1940]

10 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

I have friends in Isaan in their 70's who have successfully completed the two doses of Sinovac.

 

 

Your irrational fear of Sinovac has left you unprotected.

'Irrational - unreasonable

not logical or reasonable.- illogical -groundless - baseless - unfounded'   I fail to comprehend how my decision to avoid Sinovac qualifies for the word 'Irrational"

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/06/17/chinas-sinovac-vaccine-under-scrutiny-as-covid-soars-in-highly-vaccinated-countries/?sh=56f575131444

 

I wish your friends well, but currently Sinovac is not for me !

 

 

 

"

 

 

[OJAS]

On 6/18/2021 at 9:26 PM, VBF said:

Indeed.

And, @Angela Poustie would you expect the NHS to take care of you in Thailand, if you had any serious medical condition, say heart attack or stroke?

Whether rightly or wrongly, once you leave UK, the NHS doesn't cover you for anything nor does it claim to.

I presume you knew that....didn't you?

 

I am sure that the OP would, at the very least, appreciate - as, indeed, I would - spare vaccines which are not needed in the UK being jabbed into the arms of British expats instead of being cheerfully given away for free by the British government to other countries (including, presumably, to the Thai government in order to facilitate them in giving the very highest of tip-top priorities to vaccinating their nationals ahead of foreigners). Why is that seemingly too unreasonable to expect in your and @richard_smith237's eyes?

Edited June 20, 2021 by OJAS

[Moonlover]

2 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

I am sure that the OP would, at the very least, appreciate - as, indeed, I would - spare vaccines which are not needed in the UK being jabbed into the arms of British expats instead of being cheerfully given away for free by the British government to other countries (including, presumably, to the Thai government in order to facilitate them in giving the very highest of tip-top priorities to vaccinating their nationals ahead of foreigners). Why is that seemingly too unreasonable to expect in your and @richard_smith237's eyes?

Have you really thought this one through @OJAS? Even if, thanks to the largess of the British government, a consignment of vaccines were to arrive in Thailand, marked 'For British Expats Only', who do you suppose is going administer the distribution and delivery of the vaccines to the waiting arms?

 

I would hardly think that the British embassy has the capability to do so and I don't think that the Thai authorities would be very cooperative in this regard.

 

Let's all just be patient. It will all come right in the end. Despite all the hype that's going on, this is still a reasonably safe country to be in. With only 3,118 cases per 1 million, Thailand is still well down the list (151st) in terms of risk.

 

Edited June 20, 2021 by Moonlover

[OJAS]

22 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Thai’s were also told there was no vaccine available - Do you want the vaccine ahead of those Thai’s around you who are a similar age and in a similar risk group ?

 

As a British national in the high risk group I would definitely like to receive a British vaccine ahead of the 100m+ non-British beneficiaries (or 50m+ if they are each to receive 2 jabs) of BJ's Great Vaccine Giveaway:-

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-57436535

 

Particularly if BJ considers Thailand to be a sufficiently poor country as to warrant the provision of spare British vaccines to enable them to provide jabs to locals who may not necessarily be in the same risk group as myself!

 

Edited June 20, 2021 by OJAS

[OJAS]

7 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Have you really thought this one through @OJAS? Even if, thanks to the largess of the British government, a consignment of vaccines were to arrive in Thailand, marked 'For British Expats Only', who do you suppose is going administer the distribution and delivery of the vaccines to the waiting arms?

 

Well the British government certainly doesn't appear to envisage any problems in delivering consignments of spare vaccines to 100m+ non-British beneficiaries as part of their Great Vaccine Giveaway referred to in my immediately preceding post!

 

Edited June 20, 2021 by OJAS

[Moonlover]

2 minutes ago, OJAS said:

8 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

Have you really thought this one through @OJAS? Even if, thanks to the largess of the British government, a consignment of vaccines were to arrive in Thailand, marked 'For British Expats Only', who do you suppose is going administer the distribution and delivery of the vaccines to the waiting arms?

 

2 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

Well the British government certainly doesn't appear to envisage any problems in delivering consignments of spare vaccines to 100m+ non-British beneficiaries as part of their Great Vaccine Giveaway referred to in my immediately preceding post!

 

But that doesn't answer my question does it?

[brewsterbudgen]

58 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

Well the British government certainly doesn't appear to envisage any problems in delivering consignments of spare vaccines to 100m+ non-British beneficiaries as part of their Great Vaccine Giveaway referred to in my immediately preceding post!

 

He was talking about administering the vaccine once it arrived. Do you think that's something the Embassy should do? I doubt they would have the capabilities nor should they!

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, Moonlover said:

 

But that doesn't answer my question does it?

 

17 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

He was talking about administering the vaccine once it arrived. Do you think that's something the Embassy should do? I doubt they would have the capabilities nor should they!

 

Allow me to draw your attention to the NNT article linked below, which states that the ViMUT Hospital are providing COVID-19 jabs to Chinese nationals living in Thailand under an arrangement with the Chinese Embassy. So, if the Chinese Embassy can enter into a suitable arrangement with a local hospital, why on earth can't their British counterpart do likewise? The statement in the NNT article that ViMUT are willing to work with other embassies interested in providing vaccinations for their nationals is particularly worth noting in this connection.

 

https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG210527124013401

 

Edited June 20, 2021 by OJAS

[jayboy]

20 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

He was talking about administering the vaccine once it arrived. Do you think that's something the Embassy should do? I doubt they would have the capabilities nor should they!

 

It's not going to happen because of UK government policy that overseas UK residents should make their own arrangements.As it happens, notwithstanding current uncertainties I think that's the correct decision for a country of Thailand's reasonably advanced economic/health infrastructure status.Vaccines will shortly be available for all.

 

In the hypothetical case of (1) vaccine not being made available to foreigners in reasonable time and (2)  the UK taking the initiative to support residents, logistics would not be a difficult issue.The actual vaccination process would be contracted out to a hospital/s, not carried out in the Embassy's parking lot.There would also be a charge to recover costs but I don't suppose anybody would object to that.

[Moonlover]

40 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

 

Allow me to draw your attention to the NNT article linked below, which states that the ViMUT Hospital are providing COVID-19 jabs to Chinese nationals living in Thailand under an arrangement with the Chinese Embassy. So, if the Chinese Embassy can enter into a suitable arrangement with a local hospital, why on earth can't their British counterpart do likewise? The statement in the NNT article that ViMUT are willing to work with other embassies interested in providing vaccinations for their nationals is particularly worth noting in this connection.

 

https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG210527124013401

 

One only has to read the article to see the obvious political and economic benefit to the Chinese. A captive and receptive audience of some 20,000 Chinese nationals working for Huawei Technologies (Thailand) says it all really doesn't it. And how many other Chinese are there here working on infrastructure projects? The UK has no such parallel incentive to tempt them to emulate the Chinese.

 

I would also point out that not all of us live in, or near Bangkok. You would certainly not tempt me, for instance, to do two 1,300kl round trips to get vaccinated, (at a cost no doubt) when in the not distant future I shall receive my vaccinations at my local hospital just 10kl away and for free.

 

Sorry, it's a no brainer. Stay home, stay safe and wait your turn. It'll come around eventually.

[Saltire]

2 hours ago, Moonlover said:

 

 

I would also point out that not all of us live in, or near Bangkok. You would certainly not tempt me, for instance, to do two 1,300kl round trips to get vaccinated, (at a cost no doubt) when in the not distant future I shall receive my vaccinations at my local hospital just 10kl away and for free.

 

 

I agree 100% however my province, Kanchanaburi don't seem to have received any of the memos. Hope they wake up soon. Not many foreigners here so probably low priority.

[Moonlover]

6 minutes ago, Saltire said:

I agree 100% however my province, Kanchanaburi don't seem to have received any of the memos. Hope they wake up soon. Not many foreigners here so probably low priority.

Luckily for you, there not many Covid cases in your region. I note that Kanchanaburi only had 1 reported today. Just like us over in the north west, few cases so not much to worry about anyway.

 

Stay safe.

[brewsterbudgen]

3 hours ago, OJAS said:

 

 

Allow me to draw your attention to the NNT article linked below, which states that the ViMUT Hospital are providing COVID-19 jabs to Chinese nationals living in Thailand under an arrangement with the Chinese Embassy. So, if the Chinese Embassy can enter into a suitable arrangement with a local hospital, why on earth can't their British counterpart do likewise? The statement in the NNT article that ViMUT are willing to work with other embassies interested in providing vaccinations for their nationals is particularly worth noting in this connection.

 

https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG210527124013401

 

 

I don't think you can compare the UK's elected government with the unelected, authoritarian Chinese dictatorship.  I'm no fan of Boris, but surely his government's duty is towards the UK, not those citizens who chose to leave (like me) and who no doubt can be found in almost every country in the world.  I think you expect too much!