Foreigners aged over 60 in Bangkok to be given priority for AstraZeneca vaccine

[webfact]

File Photo: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

 

Foreigners and Thais aged over 60 will be given priority to receive doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine recently donated to Thailand from Japan.

 

A shipment of one million doses of the vaccine arrived in Thailand from Japan on Friday (July 10). 

 

The doses will be administered primarily to people aged over 60 or those with underlying health conditions in Bangkok. 

 

Speaking during the press briefing on Friday, Dr Apisamai Srirangson, Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) spokesperson said the government is trying to speed up vaccines to senior citizens in the Thai capital in a bid to control the more contagious Delta variant of the virus.

 

The accelerated rollout of the vaccine to the most vulnerable groups in the capital will include foreigners, Dr Apisamai said. 

 

The news comes after a change in the procedure for foreigners to register for the vaccine made it even more difficult for foreigners in Thailand to secure a COVID-19 jab.

 

This week, the Ministry of Public Health announced the closure of its Thailandintervac website - the online portal used for foreigners to register for vaccines.

 

Initially the website had been set up to allow the expats in high risk groups to register to receive vaccine doses. 

 

But on Wednesday, it was announced the website would no longer be accepting registrations and instead foreigners could register with one of two hospitals in Bangkok, or with their local health authority.

 

-- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-10

 

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

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[tonray]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

But on Wednesday, it was announced the website would no longer be accepting registrations and instead foreigners could register with one of two hospitals in Bangkok, or with their local health authority.

My "Local Health Authority" ? Who might that be ? When they had a vaccine setup at Central Westgate Mall last week, they looked at me like I was from Mars when I stopped to try and ascertain whether I could also be included. In the end, I was sent away with a "not know yet" from the 1 nurse who seemed to speak a bit of English.

[ezzra]

Who do you thing going to get it first? here's a clue, NOT a foreigner, and beside, according to the conditions to get it you need to be a person with serious health issues to qualify, so don't hold your breath folks...

[internationalism]

" on Friday (July 10)."

no, Friday was 9th July.

The article says nothing about "priority for foreigners".

I do strongly suspect it's exactly opposite and they will be at the end of waiting line.

Edited July 10, 2021 by internationalism

[tonray]

9 minutes ago, internationalism said:

I do strongly suspect it's exactly opposite and they will be at the end of waiting line.

I can't even find the line !

[J Town]

Give all the priority you want, if there are not actual vaccines to give then you're just pi$$ing in the wind.

[bkk_bwana]

31 minutes ago, tonray said:

My "Local Health Authority" ? Who might that be ? When they had a vaccine setup at Central Westgate Mall last week, they looked at me like I was from Mars when I stopped to try and ascertain whether I could also be included. In the end, I was sent away with a "not know yet" from the 1 nurse who seemed to speak a bit of English.

It sounds like you are expecting a local nurse, in a public vaccination setup to speak a foreign language. The advice was to register at one of two hospitals in Bangkok or contact the local health authority, not just show up at Central Westgate Mall. If you don't know where your local health centre is, then that's your responsibility. You seem to be acting in a rather entitled way, living in a foreign country.

[smedly]

apart from all the issues mentioned already on this thread - due to the lack of vaccine supply even if you manage to get one shot of AZ how likely do you think it will be that you will get the required 2nd shot, this vaccination is a 2 shot process, there is really no point in getting one shot if you are never going to see the 2nd shot at the recommended interval - these million donated vaccines suddenly becomes half that when you count them as fully vaccinated -  so good luck with that 

[smedly]

14 minutes ago, bkk_bwana said:

It sounds like you are expecting a local nurse, in a public vaccination setup to speak a foreign language. The advice was to register at one of two hospitals in Bangkok or contact the local health authority, not just show up at Central Westgate Mall. If you don't know where your local health centre is, then that's your responsibility. You seem to be acting in a rather entitled way, living in a foreign country.

stop trying to defend this cluster 

 

the whole thing is a shambles 

[khwaibah]

Got ours  yesterday at the Kap Choeng Government Hospital in Surin me and the wife. AZ. I am 73 she is 47. No app was used. She signed us up in June.

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

The doses will be administered primarily to people aged over 60 or those with underlying health conditions in Bangkok. 

I wonder if it will go to Thai's first, even though they say foreigners as well ?

 

1 hour ago, webfact said:

A shipment of one million doses of the vaccine arrived in Thailand from Japan on Friday (July 10). 

Definitely loss of face for this administration, Anutin needs to go, straight after the PM !

[OJAS]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Foreigners and Thais aged over 60 will be given priority to receive doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine recently donated to Thailand from Japan.

And no doubt each and every Thai national aged 60+ will first need to have received both their jabs before a single drop of this generous Japanese donation finds its way into the arm of a foreigner!

 

[pattaya1234was]

It does take a lot of effort to obtain a vaccination but, from my experience and living in Pattaya, it is not that difficult. Yes you have to travel to Bangkok but that is not an impossibility, taxi return plus waiting 2400 baht. The National Vaccination Centre at Bang Sue railway station is the place to make for.  It is primarily for over75's-farangs included, but it appears that one person under 75 can accompany you as their carer and also get vaccinated. It is all very well planned , very clean, uncrowded and fast. The AZ vaccine is being used. I left Pattaya at 8am and was back home by 1.30pm. The whole procedure showed Thai people at their best-well done to them.

On every day this week different groups of friends have followed this procedure with success., and gratitude.

You have a few days left to take advantage-up to you!

[tonray]

21 minutes ago, pattaya1234was said:

It is primarily for over75's-farangs included, but it appears that one person under 75 can accompany you as their carer and also get vaccinated.

So all I have to do is find a 75 or older farang and drive him to Bang Sue Station...sounds simple enough. Or wait 12 years until I'm 75, whichever comes first

 

(Tongue in cheek of course I am quite pleased that @pattaya1234 was able to get his shots. Good planning and wish health and success)

Edited July 10, 2021 by tonray

[bkk_bwana]

55 minutes ago, smedly said:

stop trying to defend this cluster 

 

the whole thing is a shambles 

I'm not defending the cluster at all. It is a shambles, I totally agree. That's not the point though. If you are told to register at one of two hospitals, isn't that the most sensible route to take? If that does not work, by all means complain, but don't expect some overworked Thai health worker at a vaccination site that you randomly show up at to speak your own language. 
 

[bkk_bwana]

38 minutes ago, pattaya1234was said:

It does take a lot of effort to obtain a vaccination but, from my experience and living in Pattaya, it is not that difficult. Yes you have to travel to Bangkok but that is not an impossibility, taxi return plus waiting 2400 baht. The National Vaccination Centre at Bang Sue railway station is the place to make for.  It is primarily for over75's-farangs included, but it appears that one person under 75 can accompany you as their carer and also get vaccinated. It is all very well planned , very clean, uncrowded and fast. The AZ vaccine is being used. I left Pattaya at 8am and was back home by 1.30pm. The whole procedure showed Thai people at their best-well done to them.

On every day this week different groups of friends have followed this procedure with success., and gratitude.

You have a few days left to take advantage-up to you!

Well done and good call. People who are proactive in getting things done are getting vaccinated. The rest seem to be complaining on ThaiVisa or whatever it is called these days.

[ThailandRyan]

The biggest question I have is that the hospital I received my first dose at is MedPark Hopsital here in BKK.  I am scheduled for my second vaccination there on the 16th of September, and I wonder if that will be done or canceled.  This is getting to be a fluster cluck for all.  They make getting a vaccination even harder then doing your 90 day reports online, which does not work when it should.....

[tonray]

6 minutes ago, bkk_bwana said:

If you are told to register at one of two hospitals,

Don't live in Bangkok....there is no "local health authority", at least not one that deals with foreigners. The local health authority was the group giving vaccinations in Central Westgate which is why I innquired as to whether I could also get jabbed. They cleary had  no idea of how to register a foreigner.

[CANSIAM]

56 minutes ago, smedly said:

apart from all the issues mentioned already on this thread - due to the lack of vaccine supply even if you manage to get one shot of AZ how likely do you think it will be that you will get the required 2nd shot, this vaccination is a 2 shot process, there is really no point in getting one shot if you are never going to see the 2nd shot at the recommended interval - these million donated vaccines suddenly becomes half that when you count them as fully vaccinated -  so good luck with that 

I fled BKK temporarily months ago to Phuket, its working out so far - #1 AZ recently done, #2 AZ September 23. ( I was proactive to make it happen though ).  Yes it appears to be a complete 'shambles/cluster' for most sadly.

[sandyf]

18 minutes ago, tonray said:

Don't live in Bangkok....there is no "local health authority", at least not one that deals with foreigners. The local health authority was the group giving vaccinations in Central Westgate which is why I innquired as to whether I could also get jabbed. They cleary had  no idea of how to register a foreigner.

Many refuse to acknowledge that their attitude has lead to problems.

I have been registered at several government hospitals with yellow book and ID for years. My regular hospital registered me for the vaccine and I had it the morning of 7th June.

Ironic that those that have never wanted anything to do with government local health facilities are now desperate for the government to help them out.

[pattaya1234was]

31 minutes ago, bkk_bwana said:

Well done and good call. People who are proactive in getting things done are getting vaccinated. The rest seem to be complaining on ThaiVisa or whatever it is called these days.

Thank you-much appreciated.

[lopburi3]

42 minutes ago, bkk_bwana said:

I'm not defending the cluster at all. It is a shambles, I totally agree. That's not the point though. If you are told to register at one of two hospitals, isn't that the most sensible route to take? If that does not work, by all means complain, but don't expect some overworked Thai health worker at a vaccination site that you randomly show up at to speak your own language. 
 

That was the only option provided and the hospitals are not accepting registrations until a set time this week and we will see how that works - in the case of second hospital they stated no vaccine available this month so time will tell what happens for those that manage to register but perhaps this new AZ will be available.  Weeks ago we had the 'simple' online registration method - that as you note was a complete shambles for most, even those that repeatedly tried.   Hope, and believe, hospitals will get it working much better.  Hope things work much better this week.

[Thingamabob]

2 hours ago, pattaya1234was said:

It does take a lot of effort to obtain a vaccination but, from my experience and living in Pattaya, it is not that difficult. Yes you have to travel to Bangkok but that is not an impossibility, taxi return plus waiting 2400 baht. The National Vaccination Centre at Bang Sue railway station is the place to make for.  It is primarily for over75's-farangs included, but it appears that one person under 75 can accompany you as their carer and also get vaccinated. It is all very well planned , very clean, uncrowded and fast. The AZ vaccine is being used. I left Pattaya at 8am and was back home by 1.30pm. The whole procedure showed Thai people at their best-well done to them.

On every day this week different groups of friends have followed this procedure with success., and gratitude.

You have a few days left to take advantage-up to you!

Many thanks for this detailed info. Much appreciated.

[mtls2005]

 

Bad look when foreigners start dying.

 

And it's all about appearances here.

 

Hence the sense of urgency, after the regime said months ago foreigners would be vaccinated.

 

 

 

 

 

[bedbugy]

what about old folk who do not live in bangkok

[vandeventer]

4 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

The biggest question I have is that the hospital I received my first dose at is MedPark Hopsital here in BKK.  I am scheduled for my second vaccination there on the 16th of September, and I wonder if that will be done or canceled.  This is getting to be a fluster cluck for all.  They make getting a vaccination even harder then doing your 90 day reports online, which does not work when it should.....

I also wonder about the off again on again for people over 65 for the use of the AZ vaccine. Does it really work for us over 65's or is it because there's a shortage of vaccines?

[fvw53]

6 hours ago, tonray said:

I can't even find the line !

If you are "lucky" like me to be older than 75 you can go until 18 July without any pre-registration to Gate 1 of Bang Sue Railway Station and get Astrazeneca / I did it during afternoon hours in less than 30 minutes and they only wanted to see my passport - not asking in which province I lived - and eventually what kind of medication it took / the only problem is to find a parking

[ThailandRyan]

26 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

I also wonder about the off again on again for people over 65 for the use of the AZ vaccine. Does it really work for us over 65's or is it because there's a shortage of vaccines?

That is a very good question, and one that needs some research through the studies that have been done so far.  At one time it was only for over 60's here in Thailand and the Sinovac for under 60's

 

I did find this from Australia, and its the most recent info

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-17/atagi-to-change-astrazeneca-age-rules-covid-vaccine/100222464

 

I also found that there may be problems traveling to the US if vaccinated with the AZ vaccine as it has not been approved there, but then this article alludes to a different view by the PM of Canada

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-astrazeneca-travellers-1.6071320

Edited July 10, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[khunjeff]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Foreigners and Thais aged over 60

Or, as they would be called in any other country, "people aged over 60" 

[Card]

5 hours ago, pattaya1234was said:

It does take a lot of effort to obtain a vaccination but, from my experience and living in Pattaya, it is not that difficult. Yes you have to travel to Bangkok but that is not an impossibility, taxi return plus waiting 2400 baht. The National Vaccination Centre at Bang Sue railway station is the place to make for.  It is primarily for over75's-farangs included, but it appears that one person under 75 can accompany you as their carer and also get vaccinated. It is all very well planned , very clean, uncrowded and fast. The AZ vaccine is being used. I left Pattaya at 8am and was back home by 1.30pm. The whole procedure showed Thai people at their best-well done to them.

On every day this week different groups of friends have followed this procedure with success., and gratitude.

You have a few days left to take advantage-up to you!

When did you get the Vax, what documents do you need to take and when is the last date to get one at Bang Sue? I assume it is a walk in facility. I will go as soon as I have your answers. Thx