Embassy PR stunt

[DUNROAMIN]

How does everyone feel about the Sunday vaccinations in Bangkok for Australian, Canadian and USA expats? Looking at how it was organized was merely a PR stunt to appease expats and make it look like the Embassies give a damm. Saturday morning some expats got the message to register by 12pm for a vaccine jab the next day at the SCG building in Bangkok. The message I got through Asean-Now, the headlines read, 'Vaccinations available for Australian Expats living in Thailand'. Sorry to say, this was a last minute exercise in futility, they knew before they posted this message with the short notice that very few people would actually turn up. It would be interesting to find out how many were vaccinated. I am an Ozzie living here and I found this to be a slap in the face from the Australian Embassy. Also, if you watch the Embassy video released on 16 July by our Australian Ambassador his appearance is disgraceful for a ambassador representing our country. It looks like he just woke up from a hangover. Cheers

[WEBBYB808]

You said it!

[Nojohndoe]

Initially I had similar opinion of thought about the sudden issue of this invitation at such short notice.

After learning it was generic to several Embassies which made it clear that this was an offer by the Thai Government but limited to 100 individuals  per each I concluded it was a PR token that could be quoted to counter critical comment about separatist policy regarding non Thai nationals regarding  equitable access to vaccination based on risk factors as has been the policy of those same Embassy nations in eligibility regardless of nationality or status/reason to be present.

Given that Thailand has come up very short in adequate provision of vaccines for virtually anyone other than the well connected "elite" this tokenism is more of an insult than any arguable justification.

The best "stunt" other than has been admirably demonstrated by the French via it's Embassy in giving timely  notice to all it's Nationals over 55yrs in Thailand to register and then receive a valid vaccination of J&J . That puts paid to any BS that it can not be done and further to the lie that there is no ability to access vaccine outside of the criteria set by the Thai Government.

 

[steven100]

call the embassy involved and voice your opinion. Tell them it was considered nothing more than a PR exercise to make out the ambassadors actually care.

[blackcab]

Moved to the Covid-19 forum.

[Oxx]

The expats should be at least a little bit grateful that the Embassies accept a certain responsibility for getting their citizens vaccinated, unlike the British Embassy which is adamant that it will do absolutely nothing for the British living outside the UK.

[jayboy]

To be fair a number of Ambassadors made it clear they were uneasy with this stunt since it's more important that all expatriates get fair and equal treatment.But it's not hard to understand why they went along with this very limited piece of Thai grandstanding, regardless of their reservations.

[steven100]

5 minutes ago, jayboy said:

Ambassadors made it clear they were uneasy with this stunt

can you be more specific .... how do you know & why do you say this  ...  thanks

[jayboy]

4 minutes ago, steven100 said:

can you be more specific .... how do you know & why do you say this  ...  thanks

There were a number of such comments on Twitter including one from the Netherlands Ambassador. The second sentence is simply my own presumption.

Edited July 20, 2021 by jayboy

[new2here]

I was one who was simply “in the right place, at the right time” and was able to sign-up and get approved (and jabbed sunday)

 

I think - my opinion only - is that the RTG did have some surplus — THEN made the decision to give these surpluses to selected embassies - with the idea that it might cut down on some of the negativity that embassies have expressed about vaccine accessibility and the like.

 

So… IMHO, was it a “stunt”?  To a degree, yes I think it was… but i think it’s fair to note that nearly everything a government does (be that the thai government or others) has a real political assessment tied to it and potential PR benefit/risk calculations made…. and I think this political assessment is what triggered the last-minute, late Friday night decision. 

[Asquith Production]

5 hours ago, Oxx said:

The expats should be at least a little bit grateful that the Embassies accept a certain responsibility for getting their citizens vaccinated, unlike the British Embassy which is adamant that it will do absolutely nothing for the British living outside the UK.

True, they say British NHS does not operate outside the UK.. So why did they send 700000 vaccine doses back in April via the back door to Australia and tried to hush it up. They are disgusting..

[VocalNeal]

It still amazes me that people think that Embassies are an overseas extension of their home country's welfare state. 

 

[jack7106]

I fell into the trap but was fortunate enough to be not successful in my online application. In hindsight this was excellent as it was an Astrazeneca vaccine which is not recommended for people under 60 years of age. I am 54 and rather dismissive of the photo opportunities????????????????????????????

[MadMuhammad]

6 minutes ago, jack7106 said:

I fell into the trap but was fortunate enough to be not successful in my online application. In hindsight this was excellent as it was an Astrazeneca vaccine which is not recommended for people under 60 years of age. I am 54 and rather dismissive of the photo opportunities????????????????????????????

I'm 43 and jumped on the bandwagon. I feel the benefit far outweighs the very minimal risks. My ex fiancee and many of her colleagues under 60 in her department at The Alfred in Melbourne have had AZ with zero issues, good enough for me. If getting it helps shave even on day off of all these lockdowns and restrictions it's mission accomplished 

[Asquith Production]

8 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

It still amazes me that people think that Embassies are an overseas extension of their home country's welfare state. 

 

Most dont expect any help but when a once in a life time event occurs you would think that some help would be forthcoming especially as most would have paid into a government system and the difficulty off getting vaccinated here.

[tonray]

5 hours ago, Oxx said:

unlike the British Embassy which is adamant that it will do absolutely nothing for the British living outside the UK.

I read they have already been vaccinated in the Falklands. Goes to show that logistics likely not the issue here. 

 

Same for the USA, for crying out loud Guam is giving them away to foreigners as vaccine tourists ! Pretty sure they're not manufactured on Guam

Edited July 20, 2021 by tonray

[Emdog]

17 hours ago, Nojohndoe said:

Initially I had similar opinion of thought about the sudden issue of this invitation at such short notice.

After learning it was generic to several Embassies which made it clear that this was an offer by the Thai Government but limited to 100 individuals  per each I concluded it was a PR token that could be quoted to counter critical comment about separatist policy regarding non Thai nationals regarding  equitable access to vaccination based on risk factors as has been the policy of those same Embassy nations in eligibility regardless of nationality or status/reason to be present.

Given that Thailand has come up very short in adequate provision of vaccines for virtually anyone other than the well connected "elite" this tokenism is more of an insult than any arguable justification.

The best "stunt" other than has been admirably demonstrated by the French via it's Embassy in giving timely  notice to all it's Nationals over 55yrs in Thailand to register and then receive a valid vaccination of J&J . That puts paid to any BS that it can not be done and further to the lie that there is no ability to access vaccine outside of the criteria set by the Thai Government.

 

The embassies all got played with this stunt. 100 shots, tho woefully inadequate, still would vaccinate 100 people & 100>0, so embassies had to go along. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.... I'm in no way apologizing for the near criminal lack of support for expats here from most home governments.

And I saw a notice the other day that France will now give vaccine to over 18 as they've already taken care of the oldsters.

[newnative]

Yes, just a useless PR stunt.  Look!  We're doing something!  Not.

[fabruer]

Whatever it is, there will always be a few complaining about it ????‍♂️

 

Myself, actually I was happy about the offer and gladly took up the chance to register. I was rather surprised when I received the confirmation and info when and where to get vaccinated.

Lucky enough, I managed to get ny girlfriend vaccinated too - without pre-registration. As I observed this was possible for several more people - priority was given to pre-registered people.

 

[mfd101]

I think the people to complain about here are the wunnerful Thai government, not the Embassies.

 

Would you all be congratulating the Embassies if they had turned down the Thais' hypocritical token offer? I think not.

[MadMuhammad]

Just now, Asquith Production said:

Most dont expect any help but when a once in a life time event occurs you would think that some help would be forthcoming especially as most would have paid into a government system and the difficulty off getting vaccinated here.

They do provide the help that they're mandated to ie: notifying the Aus gov and providing knowledge of what steps to take next (to my knowledge anyway). They aren't and never have been there as a safety net

[ChrisKC]

ambassador representing our country. It looks like he just woke up from a hangover. Cheers

 

Ah! Sir Les Patterson, also Chairman of the Cheese Board! You should be proud of him!

[chilly07]

So it seems the UK 'embassy' got notified along with the rest but did nothing. Typical! Today got email from British Chamber of Commerce that we can attend along with Thai wrinkleys to queue up at Bang Sue station. Somebody feeling guilty at 'embassy'? I think not!

[Retfed50]

It was a PR stunt, but not by the embassies. This dog and pony show was initiated by the Thai government. The embassies did nothing except to give you a link to register with the Thai government for the "very limited" supply of vaccines.

[arick]

Canadian government did a huge disclaimer... Making it very clear they are acting as and only as the messenger for the Thai government and staying far far away from this. 

[arick]

7 hours ago, Oxx said:

The expats should be at least a little bit grateful that the Embassies accept a certain responsibility for getting their citizens vaccinated, unlike the British Embassy which is adamant that it will do absolutely nothing for the British living outside the UK.

The Canadian Embassy took no responsibility. They clearly stated the are just a messenger for the Thai government and in no way are responsible for this vaccine or the message. 

[khunjeff]

1 hour ago, tonray said:

I read they have already been vaccinated in the Falklands. Goes to show that logistics likely not the issue here. 

 

Same for the USA, for crying out loud Guam is giving them away to foreigners as vaccine tourists ! Pretty sure they're not manufactured on Guam

The Falklands are a territory of the UK, and Guam is a territory of the US. Thailand is not a territory of either one.

[tonray]

12 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

The Falklands are a territory of the UK, and Guam is a territory of the US. Thailand is not a territory of either one.

Which is why I stated that logistics and geography are clearly not the issue to distribution of vaccines.

Edited July 20, 2021 by tonray

[khunjeff]

13 minutes ago, arick said:

Canadian government did a huge disclaimer... Making it very clear they are acting as and only as the messenger for the Thai government and staying far far away from this. 

As did the US Embassy - I'm not sure how anyone reading this could characterize this as an "Embassy PR stunt":

 

"The Thai Government has informed the U.S. Embassy that it is offering U.S. citizens in Thailand the opportunity to be vaccinated"

 

"By  filling out this form, you acknowledge that your information is going directly to the Thai Government coordinating officials, not the U.S. Embassy."

 

"This  is a limited opportunity offered by the Thai Government."

 

"Registration  information is being collected by the Royal Thai Government, not the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok.  The U.S. Embassy will not have access to information on the form."

[LongTimeLurker]

1 hour ago, new2here said:

I was one who was simply “in the right place, at the right time” and was able to sign-up and get approved (and jabbed sunday)

What was your experience?

 

One report I read (from an Aussie I think) was that the whole process took 5 hours, 3 of which were waiting outside in the heat.

 

And is SCG Building a company or a hospital?