U.S. embassy in Thailand rejects citizens' appeal for vaccines

[Kwaibill]

11 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

Yes thats true.  Be curious how that pans out and how they do it logistically.

Hopefully we get Moderna here sooner than later.  Until then stay safe.

The French, logisticaly, aranged for Thai  hospitals to administer vaccines supplied by the French.

I don't recall reading how they transport the doses.

Diplomatic (Big!) pouch?

[Misty]

55 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It seems you don't like it here. Now think about what is easier. Changing Thailand or leaving Thailand?

 

Ha.  I'm just calling a spade a spade.  Is that a problem?

[OneMoreFarang]

3 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

OMF OMG, never thought you were part of the "If you don't like it then leave" brigade. Guess your just not a happy camper.

I am happy in Thailand. Otherwise I wouldn't be here.

Because if I would think life would be better somewhere else then I would go to that place. It's not really rocket science. 

[metisdead]

Some off topic deflection posts and replies about the elections have been removed. 

[SomchaiCNX]

I agree but than the US should stop charging tax for people living abroad. THey take the money so I think it would be fair to take care of them.

 

[skorp13]

It wasn't the U.S. Embassy that declined the jabs, it was the U.S. State Department. I.E. Biden

[mackayae]

Yesterday, when the French ambassador, Thierry Mathou, announced the vaccination campaign, he made an interesting comment. He said that none of the staff in the embassy had been vaccinated because all French in Thailand were treated as equal.   This is a good lesson in leading by example. It’s also the right thing to do and a correct policy!

[newnative]

    Meanwhile, the US State Department has just classified Thailand as a '3' in its risk assessment, due to its evaluation of the current covid situation in Thailand.  3, by the way, is not good.  So, basically, they are saying don't go to Thailand, but not offering any help to the Americans here.  And, no I am still not buying that ridiculous 'logistics' argument.  Oh, it would just be too darn hard to get vaccines here.  No, it's not.  Cue France and China.  

[yankee99]

12 hours ago, Disparate Dan said:

Evidence for this? And where are you?

Like many others actually IN Thailand, I have a jab scheduled.

Whether I want it is not something the embassy would not get involved in.

Well im not going to speculate on the reason but in Banglamung {Pattaya} any adult thai that can book a appointment for the vaccine regardless of physical condition or age. 

 

I being a foreigner have no way to book a appointment. 

[Rimmer]

An inflammatory / troll post has been removed

[GiveMeAColdOne]

3 hours ago, bkkflynnsta said:

Once again, our US tax dollars hard at work for us expats living abroad. The US and Eritrea are the last remaining Citizen Based Taxation nations on the planet. It's disgraceful that we have to file taxes in the US as well as the countries we live in, and get near zero benefit for it.  We are third-class citizens and punished for working outside our country. Write to your senators and representatives unless you're happy being taxed twice...

"Near Zero".  I'm still looking for ANY benefit.  If you can think of one, please let me know.

[John Drake]

4 minutes ago, mackayae said:

Yesterday, when the French ambassador, Thierry Mathou, announced the vaccination campaign, he made an interesting comment. He said that none of the staff in the embassy had been vaccinated because all French in Thailand were treated as equal.   This is a good lesson in leading by example. It’s also the right thing to do and a correct policy!

 

I didn't see that. But it's a strong statement. During my years teaching at Mahidol, I frequently had the chance to work with the French Embassy and its ambassador as well as the alliance francaise at their old, old location.  They were always helpful in bringing in speakers, participating in exhibits, and inviting us to receptions at the ambassador's residence. During that entire time, I never had a single contact from the US Embassy. Back then and today with Covid, the French make themselves look especially good at the expense of the clueless US.

[DrJack54]

41 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

Yes thats true.  Be curious how that pans out and how they do it logistically.

Hopefully we get Moderna here sooner than later.  Until then stay safe.

New topic in Thai news forum.

Moderna supplies will be less than half the previous expected amount. Current thread. Not happy

[WaveHunter]

15 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Imagine every country in this world would supply vaccines to all their citizens which are in other countries in this world. That would be a lot of vaccines flying around the globe. And for what? Most (all?) countries work on the vaccination of all the people in their individual countries. It just takes some time.

 

As far as I see there is no foreigner in Thailand who didn't voluntarily come to Thailand, maybe except from prisoners. Many foreigners are in Thailand because they enjoy that Thailand is different from home. But then some complain that x and y and z is not like home. Make up your mind! What do you want? Thailand with all the good and all the bad? Or only those parts of Thailand which you like and otherwise your home country should take care of you. Really? 

I disagree with your view entirely, and that Reuters news story left out a critically important part of the Embassy email.

 

According to the email I received from the US Embassy yesterday, The U.S. is expected to have a surplus of 500 million to 1 billion doses by the end of this year, depending on its vaccine strategy, according to estimates by Brookings Institution. 

 

The email goes on to explain that The Biden-Harris Administration plans to share 80 million vaccine doses worldwide by the end of June.  The first 25 million of these doses will soon be released, with 7 million doses going to countries in Asia, including Thailand.

 

Is it unreasonable for expats to expect that we SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR THOSE 80 MILLION DOSES???

 

First of all, the registration scheme for foreigners in Thailand has proved to be hugely flawed.  Whether this is intentional (i.e.: just a PR effort to keep foreigners satisfied that they are not being discriminated against) or just due to gross incompetence is a subject for  debate.  

 

The fact is that all of the various registration schemes for foreigners have failed to work for the most part (MorProm, in-person registration at designated hospitals, InterVac, Intervac/Expat).  All of these registration schemes have failed miserably!

 

The CCSA has repeatedly promised to provide details about foreigner registration but to date has failed to provide any of those promised details such as which hospitals have been designated for foreigners to register at, and in the last week has not even addressed foreigner registration in their daily English briefings...not once, even though they acknowledged a couple weeks ago that this was the primary goal of the English briefings...to keep foreigner well informed!

  


The rollout strategy for any country should be to vaccinate those individuals most likely to contract and spread the virus first, regardless of nationality, but that does not seem to be the case here in Thailand.  

 

Foreigners are essentially being discriminated against (whether it is intentional or not is irrelevant).  It is happening and that's all that matters!  

For us expats, we are no closer to knowing when or even if we can expect to become vaccinated in the public rollout scheme!  Even the private hospital registration scheme has not gone well at all.
  This leaves expats (especially those 60 and older, and /or with health risks in a very precarious situation!  

 

Considering all of this, I think there is EVERY reason for American expats to expect and demand that they receive priority on those 80 million donated doses.  We are after all, tax paying citizens and should have the same rights and the same protections as any citizen regardless of whether we are on US soil or not.

 

I mean, if we are expected to pay our taxes while being off US soil, he should feel entitled to the same rights and protection of any tax-paying citizens regardless of where we happen to be located.

 

Attached here, is the actual email that Reuters has selectively interpreted in their misleading story:

 

[newnative]

5 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

I disagree with your view entirely, and that Reuters news story left out an important part of the Embassy email (see the end of my post).

 

 

According to the email I received from the US Embassy yesterday,The U.S. is expected to have a surplus of 500 million to 1 billion doses by the end of this year, depending on its vaccine strategy, according to estimates by Brookings Institution. 

 

The email goes on to explain that The Biden-Harris Administration plans to share 80 million vaccine doses worldwide by the end of June.  The first 25 million of these doses will soon be released, with 7 million doses going to countries in Asia, including Thailand.

 

Is it unreasonable for expats to expect that we SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR THOSE 80 MILLION DOSES???

 

First of all, the registration scheme for foreigners in Thailand has proved to be hugely flawed.  Whether this is intentional (i.e.: just a PR effort to keep foreigners satisfied that they are not being discriminated against) or just due to gross incompetence is a subject for  debate.  

 

The fact is that all registration schemes for foreigners have failed to work for the most part (MorProm, in-person registration at designated hospitals), InterVac, Intervac/Expat).

  


The rollout strategy for any country should be to vaccinate those individuals most likely to contract and spread the virus first, regardless of nationality, but that does not seem to be the case here in Thailand.  

 

Foreigners are essentially being ignored!  The CCSA has repeatedly promised to provide details about foreigner registration but to date has failed to provide any of those promised details like which hospitals have been designated for foreigners to register at.  Registration amounts to nothing more than being put on a waiting list; So why is this still not happening?


For us expats, we are no closer to knowing when or even if we can expect to become vaccinated in the public rollout scheme sometime this year!  Even the private hospital registration scheme has not gone well at all.
  This leaves expats (especially those 60 and older, and /or with health risks in a very precarious situation!  

 

Considering all of this, I think there is EVERY reason for American expats to expect and demand that they receive priority on those 80 million donated doses.  We are after all, tax paying citizens and should have the same rights and the same protections as any citizen regardless of whether we are on US soil or not.

America just needs to follow China's example.  Donate vaccines with the stipulation that a small percentage is set aside for Americans in Thailand.  

[AgMech Cowboy]

15 hours ago, clivebaxter said:

Biden would rather get illegal immigrants vaccinated than citizens abroad

Well, that's true.

[WaveHunter]

8 minutes ago, newnative said:

America just needs to follow China's example.  Donate vaccines with the stipulation that a small percentage is set aside for Americans in Thailand.  

It only seems fair and equitable since our concerns are not being addressed locally...not at all.  I just hope that the present US Administration recognizes this and doesn;t allow the donated vaccines to be administered however the recipient governments desire.  In other words, I have serious concerns about the present Administration and State Department to handle this donated rollout properly.

[underbob]

It's possible they've been told they can't distribute directly to US citizens & that somehow every vaccine they donate to Thailand will end up in a private hospital costing 3,000 or more per jab

[oslooskar]

15 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

your home country should take care of you. Really? 

As a taxpayer I had expectations that my government would show more concern for the well-being of its own citizens than those of other countries. Do you think that's unreasonable?

[wwest5829]

14 hours ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

they shouldnt do it because its not their business

individuals outside their country must surely organize their own healthcare... or return home

France are the only nation doing this ......at home -based French taxpayer expense no doubt.......

perhaps they are offloading those millions of perfectly good unused AZ vaccines , before expiration, a stockpile that Macron created, stupidly & jealously saying AZ was no good........

 

 

Just a note. France and China ...

[OneMoreFarang]

3 minutes ago, oslooskar said:

As a taxpayer I had expectations that my government would show more concern for the well-being of its own citizens than those of other countries. Do you think that's unreasonable?

Next thing you will come with quotes like "government of the people, by the people, for the people"

Yeah, sounds like a great idea. Now who will explain that to the politicians and their sponsors? 

[digger70]

U.S. embassy in Thailand rejects citizens' appeal for vaccines. 

 

There's no need for Foreign embassies to supply their people who live Abroad with a vaccine . 

There are millions all over the world.  

Foreigners here in Thailand will get their vaccine  (for free) there are already many foreigners who got their Jab ,Me included. 

Anyway it's not really free isn't it .We pay  tax on everything we buy including vehicles and building houses so I think we are on the same level as the Natives some of us maybe on a fraction higher level.

[wwest5829]

11 hours ago, Taboo2 said:

Good-the US should not provide any vaccines to "entitled Expats".  Regardless if you pay taxes or not.  Unless you are working at the Embassy or in the Military protecting our country, you should just "Man up" and get yourselves vaccinated back home or just wait your turn in Thailand.

 

Americans whine too much nowadays....always looking for Mommie (the Government) to help them.

 

 

Just a footnote concerning "entitled expats". I am retired in Thailand in large extent because I would find it difficult to live on my $2400.00 ($1320 of that from SS) retirement income. While I am quite happy to be here, "entitled" is pushing the reality.

[Misty]

30 minutes ago, whiteflight said:

That is a gross simplification (or misrepresentation).
You are *only* exempt on *foreign* earned income, not on any income considered to be earned from the United States, that includes for example, Social Security, which expatriates are in fact still taxed on, as well as any other investment or interest income you may have in a US bank or brokerage account.

 

Yes, and US expats owe tax not just on income from US bank or brokerage accounts.  US expats owe US tax on any non-salary income earned anywhere.  For example, investment, trading profit, or interest income that you may have from non-US banks, brokerage accounts, rental property, trading crypto etc etc. 

[Captain Monday]

900 bases in 70 countries "Greatest country in the world" could if we wanted to but for now the state.gov policy is being followed. Don't give up hope though covid pandemic is farm from over. Within this year expats will probably need to be vaccinated to remain in many countries and they are already talking necessary boosters. Will uncle sam be upstaged by China and France two years running?

[BobinBKK]

15 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Imagine every country in this world would supply vaccines to all their citizens which are in other countries in this world. That would be a lot of vaccines flying around the globe. And for what? Most (all?) countries work on the vaccination of all the people in their individual countries. It just takes some time.

 

As far as I see there is no foreigner in Thailand who didn't voluntarily come to Thailand, maybe except from prisoners. Many foreigners are in Thailand because they enjoy that Thailand is different from home. But then some complain that x and y and z is not like home. Make up your mind! What do you want? Thailand with all the good and all the bad? Or only those parts of Thailand which you like and otherwise your home country should take care of you. Really? 

And what does this have to do with you? This is just one of your many opinions that lack intelligence.

[Kenneth White]

14 hours ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

then go back to USA for that then......

Like they say in America "Love it or leave it" This holds true any ware. Thailand Love it or leave it. I am American and do my damnedest to accept the Thai culture and Thai first, which at times it is difficult but at least I try. All you expats from all over world stop complaining. The entire planet is drowning and you are describing the water. 

[WaveHunter]

9 minutes ago, digger70 said:

U.S. embassy in Thailand rejects citizens' appeal for vaccines. 

 

There's no need for Foreign embassies to supply their people who live Abroad with a vaccine . 

There are millions all over the world.  

Foreigners here in Thailand will get their vaccine  (for free) there are already many foreigners who got their Jab ,Me included. 

Anyway it's not really free isn't it .We pay  tax on everything we buy including vehicles and building houses so I think we are on the same level as the Natives some of us maybe on a fraction higher level.

If my country (the United States) is donating millions of doses to foreign countries including Thailand, then I have every right to feel "entitled" to have priority of those donated vaccines.  We are not talking about Embassies providing vaccines; we are talking about one's home government providing them to a country like Thailand with a  stipulation that the donating country's expat population will be first on the list to receive them.  

 

Is that an unfair assumption to make?  I don't think it is at all.

[oslooskar]

1 minute ago, Captain Monday said:

Will uncle sam be upstaged by hina and France two years running?

Uncle Sam has already been upstaged by France. (I'll leave China out of it because, as far as I know, it's responsible for this mess.)

[mtls2005]

6 minutes ago, Captain Monday said:

900 bases in 70 countries "Greatest country in the world"

 

"We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win, and the others, too."

 

JFK Sep. 12, 1962

 

 

 

But vaccines to Thailand. Oh my, how would we ever accomplish such a thing? 

 

 

Meanwhile, Cobra Gold, where logistics seem no obstacle.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/30305459