Calls for better queuing system at Bang Sue station vax center - even a SLOWDOWN

[webfact]

Picture: Daily News

 

A government Covid-19 spokeswoman has responded to concerns from many parties that the Bang Sue Grand Central Station vaccination center has flawed queuing systems that could potentially result in a cluster or spread of infection. 

 

Dr Apisamai Srirangsan said at Government House that Bangkok residents and people from outlying provinces had been pouring into the center.

 

This at a time when interprovincial travel is being discouraged, reported Daily News. 

 

Clearly, she said, vaccination was a priority for people to travel but she said that the government were to take steps to ensure that the authorities at Bang Sue introduced a better queuing system and possibly even slowed down the numbers going there.

 

Thousands were at the cavernous new station on Sunday, reports ASEAN NOW who were at the station in the afternoon.

 

The queuing system did not appear to be centrally organized and there was some confusion as to where to go. But there were protocols in place - albeit a little haphazard - to prevent social distancing being overly compromised. 

 

Staff were helpful though there was a sense that some organisational decisions was being made up on the spot.

 

Signage was quite limited even in the Thai language and with many hundreds of foreigners being vaccinated, there was also an almost total lack of English signage. 

 

At some points people were marched in columns reminiscent of schooldays. 

 

Daily News reported that 90,934 vaccinations had been completed at Bang Sue by close of play Sunday.

 

The total doses now administered in the country was 15,960,778.

 

As far as Bangkok first doses go from February 28th to July 25th there have been 4,330,140 jabs administered that equates to 56.24% of the population.

 

Over 60s have received 75,946 jabs in the capital, 54% of the people.

 

For those with underlying health conditions it is 465,027 people or 70.52%.

 

But the position outside Bangkok remains of concern with the Thai public healthy ministry calling for 50% of the population to be vaccinated as soon as possible but vaccine rollout still relatively slow, said Daily News. 

 

Some areas were waiting for vaccine supplies while others were urged to use up their stock and get the job done as quickly as possible.

 

Expats in the provinces on ASEAN NOW threads and forums continued to report conflicting stories about registration and availability of vaccination outside Bangkok.  

 

-- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-27

 

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[grandpa]

Still can't even register in Khon Kaen!  Tried yesterday at Central Plaza where hundreds of young fit Thais were being vaccinated with Sinopharm, having been registered by the companies which they worked for.  Asked where I could register, was told not yet for farangs!  I am 73 with 3 of the 7 chronic illnesses and no-one seems to care.! Crazy.  Mind you, even my 58 year old Thai wife has been unable to register anywhere.

There are just no public announcements, and everything is done by word of mouth or social media.  I went to Central Plaza and KICE yesterday on a rumour that registration was taking place, all to no avail.  Why should it be so difficult!

[tonray]

Yes I was there on Sunday....the only issue was great confusion on where to go...for example...when you come out of the MRT station you head across the tracks and road to the entrance...but of course registration is not at that obviously logical location....registration is all the way on the opposite side of the building...and you cannot simply walk across because in the center is where the vaccinations and queuing are taking place. So you must exit again...go downstairs into the underground parking deck and work your way over to the  opposite side of the building to get in the queue. I understand that they positioned the exit so when you are done you have direct access to MRT and roadway but perhaps a better solution would have been to cordon off a center aisle with barricades so that people coming off the MRT can walk across and get into the queue more easily. Also when you get off the train there are signs (in Thai only) instructing you which exit to take for vaccination. BUT...when you exit the MRT station...there are no signs anywhere and you are faced with crossing railroad tracks and 4 lanes of traffic to enter the building....very puzzling.

 

But I must say..once inside in the queue(s) things went smoothly and the Thai staff was very efficient in getting us to the point where the nurse gave the jab.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

A government Covid-19 spokeswoman has responded to concerns from many parties that the Bang Sue Grand Central Station vaccination center has flawed queuing systems that could potentially result in a cluster or spread of infection.

Here's an idea, send vaccines to where they are needed, not send people into one location.

Ridiculous handling of the situation.

Get busted for having more than 5 people round for a meal but send thousands into one building to get inoculated.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, grandpa said:

I am 73 with 3 of the 7 chronic illnesses and no-one seems to care.!

Prayut cares, he expects you to travel to Bangkok to get your vaccination... two times !!!!

[Aussieroaming]

One way to reduce queuing would be to operate Bang Sue (train station) Vaccination Centre on a 24 hour cycle with day and night shift vaccination crews to deliver more jabs per day. I live pretty close to Bang Sue and the major arterial routes to Bang Sue are jammed by about 9am, so this is affecting transport into, parking and waiting in line at the terminal station. People must either not want to use the BTS or MRT to get there or maybe the inter provincial travellers are contributing to the road congestion. It is a pretty easy walk for any people who live close to an MRT or BTS. I have wondered why these vaccine centres don't go 24 hour to reduce time related delivery stress.

[Mango Bob]

You are told you have to go to Bangkok to get your vaccine.  But they tell you that you have to go to your province to get your shot.  I have seen no registration announcement for foreigners in my province.

[Caldera]

I don't understand why they don't have many small vaccination centers instead of one big and overcrowded one. I guess that was the idea at some point, I've seen a few that seemed to be hardly ever open.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

Just insane to have one location for vaccines and making it far away as well. Simply ridiculous.

 

They should have dozens if not hundreds of locations around Bkk alone, as well as throughout the country.

 

 

[MrJ2U]

This is an everyday super spreader event.

 

In this circumstances its not safe.

[AwwYesNice1]

13 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

This is an everyday super spreader event.

 

In this circumstances its not safe.

Utter chaos

 

[MrJ2U]

2 hours ago, ALLSEEINGEYE said:

Just insane to have one location for vaccines and making it far away as well. Simply ridiculous.

 

They should have dozens if not hundreds of locations around Bkk alone, as well as throughout the country.

 

 

In the USA you just walk into any pharmacy,clinic, or supermarket.  You have a choice between Moderna or Pfeizer.

 

Its free.  It's simple, No apps.  No crowds.

 

The point is to just vaccinate and not procrastinate.

Edited July 27, 2021 by MrJ2U
Additional information

[hotandsticky]

2 minutes ago, MrJ2U said:

In the USA you just walk into any pharmacy.  You have a choice between Moderna or Pfeizer.

 

Its free.  No apps.  No crowds.

 

The point is to just vaccinate and not procrastinate.

 

 

Off you go then...

 

 

Personally, I will accept Thailand with all it's flaws.....including the vaccination programme.

[MrJ2U]

Just now, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Off you go then...

 

 

Personally, I will accept Thailand with all it's flaws.....including the vaccination programme.

Wonderful.