(Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

 

US Senator Tammy Duckworth revealed last night that the US government planned to provide 2.5 million doses of vaccine to Thailand.

 

The Thai-American lawmaker told a webinar on Thai-US relations on 27 July that as part of the Biden Administration’s pledge to provide vaccines to developing countries, Thailand would receive 2.5 million. The seminar was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Studies Center, East West Center in Washington DC and the Royal Thai Embassy.

 

The US has already sent 1.54 million doses of Pfizer to Thailand. The vaccines are scheduled to arrive in Bangkok Friday, after more than a month’s delay. There will be a press conference by the US Embassy in the morning to mark the arrival. Senator Duckworth said that the US valued the special ties with Thailand, as the region’s oldest friend and ally.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/us-plans-to-donate-2-5-million-doses-of-vaccine-to-thailand/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-07-29

 

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Before all the US expats say their country/embassy is not looking after them.  Consider this.

 

Embassies are not in foreign countries for the sole benefit of their citizens.  They may provide some services however they are not there for just you.

 

Embassies are in foreign countries to act as liaison between the host country and the government of country of the embassy.

 

Winge all you like but that is the truth.

Another 2.5 million vaccines donated.... At this rate Thailand won't have to purchase there own, and the money can go into the trough for all to share.... 

Great news, as proper vaccines are very badly needed here.

Clearly far beyond their ability to manage.

Isn't Britain also donating an enormous amount of vaccines to Thailand in the next couple of weeks? 

2 hours ago, lujanit said:

Before all the US expats say their country/embassy is not looking after them.  Consider this.

 

Embassies are not in foreign countries for the sole benefit of their citizens.  They may provide some services however they are not there for just you.

 

Embassies are in foreign countries to act as liaison between the host country and the government of country of the embassy.

 

Winge all you like but that is the truth.

No. That is not the truth at all.  The two State Department mission requirements are not mutually exclusive.  It's BOTH.  Represent the US national interests AND provide/promote safety for its' citizens in said country.

1 hour ago, ourmanflint said:

Isn't Britain also donating an enormous amount of vaccines to Thailand in the next couple of weeks? 

4 million AZ I believe.

Oh that's nice. How about taking care of it's own citizens first!

 

We had to fly to the states for a very, very expensive trip and are still in f'king quarantine as we speak, just to get vaccinated.

 

it shouldn't be that way.

 

Screw the US government. They just don't care about us.

3 hours ago, lujanit said:

Before all the US expats say their country/embassy is not looking after them.  Consider this.

 

Embassies are not in foreign countries for the sole benefit of their citizens.  They may provide some services however they are not there for just you.

 

Embassies are in foreign countries to act as liaison between the host country and the government of country of the embassy.

 

Winge all you like but that is the truth.

Winger winges about winging.

 

A far as I know, in a representative democracy there is little an embassy does that is not for the benefit of citizens. Ultimately, citizens decide what an embassy's responsibilities are and should be. It is the citizens' right and responsibility to suggest their embassies should provide life saving relief during a great pandemic.

 

1 hour ago, jeffandgop said:

No. That is not the truth at all.  The two State Department mission requirements are not mutually exclusive.  It's BOTH.  Represent the US national interests AND provide/promote safety for its' citizens in said country.

Could it not also be to perform whatever legitimate services and support they are directed to do? In a global pandemic, their scope could be widened. 

3 minutes ago, rabas said:

Winger winges about winging.

 

A far as I know, in a representative democracy there is little an embassy does that is not for the benefit of citizens. Ultimately, citizens decide what an embassy's responsibilities are and should be. It is the citizens' right and responsibility to suggest their embassies should provide life saving relief during a great pandemic.

 

Sure but maybe there is a distinction between 'life saving relief' and 'imminent life saving relief'.

1 hour ago, Ohyesuare said:

4 million AZ I believe.

 

I saw 410,000 to Thailand, but still a decent donation.

 

The up to 4 million figure was for :Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Cambodia, Guyana, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Thailand and Vietnam to receive up to four million doses.

 

 

Good to see the U.S. doing right by Thailand.

 

 

5 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Sure but maybe there is a distinction between 'life saving relief' and 'imminent life saving relief'.

Democratic principles can be hard to for those on the outside trying to sell state control.

 

3 hours ago, lujanit said:

Before all the US expats say their country/embassy is not looking after them.  Consider this.

 

Embassies are not in foreign countries for the sole benefit of their citizens.  They may provide some services however they are not there for just you.

 

Embassies are in foreign countries to act as liaison between the host country and the government of country of the embassy.

 

Winge all you like but that is the truth.

Which one do you work for?

15 minutes ago, rabas said:

23 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Sure but maybe there is a distinction between 'life saving relief' and 'imminent life saving relief'.

Democratic principles can be hard to for those on the outside trying to sell state control.

well at least for now "life saving relief" isn't listed.

 

https://th.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

 Great with all these free doses do you think they would start giving some to the foreigners who live here TIT

The State Department has a responsibility to assist and protect American citizens abroad , thats part of what they are supposed to do . This situation is a little different than someone being sick and needing help to go home . Thats why the French and a few other countries have stepped up to the plate and helped there people . I dont see this donation helping any American expats here . If those does get into the system the likelihood of an American Expat getting one , well you know how that goes . And I know for a fact Duckworths office has been contacted by  expats here explaining our situation .........

4 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

 Great with all these free doses do you think they would start giving some to the foreigners who live here TIT

It would be a shame if we had to mix them with Sinovac, the vaccine that never runs out.

I believe that this donation was previously announced, so there is nothing new here.

So you are criticizing your home country b/c you had to fly home to get the vaccine free as soon as you stepped off the plane?

 

yet no criticism for your new  “home”  country who put you in quarantine on your dime even though you are vaccinated and denied you any vaccine when on their soil?

 

Mind boggling where you place your criticism…

Why is the US giving anything to a coup installed military dictorship? 

...since when is Thailand a developing country!..we didnt join Covax cause we have a wealthy middle class and elite class, who can afford to purchase their own vaccines. More like the 2.5 US vaccines are about to expire due to the low vaccinate rate in the US (50%).

10 minutes ago, Danderman123 said:

I believe that this donation was previously announced, so there is nothing new here.

Meh.

 

Yes, the Biden administration announced a global mega-vaccine donation plan - COVAX + non-COVAX

 

Yes, Thailand was to be part of that (non-COVAX portion)

 

Yes, 1.5 mm doses were the first tranche, due today.

 

Yes, the news of additional doses was mentioned last week.

 

This announcement merely reinforces the commitment, volume, and allows Bangkok-born Sen. Duckworth to present some good news as part of an event.

 

I did not know about this new donation until seeing this article.

 

I guess your point is, sheesh, I don't know.

 

 

5 hours ago, webfact said:

The Thai-American lawmaker told a webinar on Thai-US relations on 27 July that as part of the Biden Administration’s pledge to provide vaccines to developing countries, Thailand would receive 2.5 million.

Thailand that boasts it's the hub of everything, but when in the mire it's a poor developing country....

3 minutes ago, tandor said:

...since when is Thailand a developing country!..we didnt join Covax cause we have a wealthy middle class and elite class, who can afford to purchase their own vaccines. More like the 2.5 US vaccines are about to expire due to the low vaccinate rate in the US (50%).

Exactly, 18 months ago Thailand bragged that it was the best performing S.E Asian nation... now it's a poor relative, and a developing country?

Iit dug itself into a deep hole last year [and still digging] now with a begging bowl out for any free donations it can get hold of, just wait, after this is all over it will brag about how it's policies beat Covid and saved the nation.

Good ol' Tammy. She could've been President.

 

As much as I dislike it, when dealing with other govts, they must prioritize appeasing the other govts first, then serving their citizens. As in the larger scheme of things, making the other govts happy then helps us in turn. Remember it wasn't long ago, when everyone's visas were running out, that kicking us all out seemed a very real possibility.

11 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Meh.

 

Yes, the Biden administration announced a global mega-vaccine donation plan - COVAX + non-COVAX

 

Yes, Thailand was to be part of that (non-COVAX portion)

 

Yes, 1.5 mm doses were the first tranche, due today.

 

Yes, the news of additional doses was mentioned last week.

 

This announcement merely reinforces the commitment, volume, and allows Bangkok-born Sen. Duckworth to present some good news as part of an event.

 

I did not know about this new donation until seeing this article.

 

I guess your point is, sheesh, I don't know.

 

 

So is this 2.5 million doses includes the previous 1.5 million doses, or is separate?

 

 

31 minutes ago, vandeventer said:

It would be a shame if we had to mix them with Sinovac, the vaccine that never runs out.

How can it possibly run out, when it has no legs?????

14 minutes ago, tandor said:

...since when is Thailand a developing country!..we didnt join Covax cause we have a wealthy middle class and elite class, who can afford to purchase their own vaccines. More like the 2.5 US vaccines are about to expire due to the low vaccinate rate in the US (50%).

No. Thaikand is a developing country, as hard as they try to make it seem otherwise. Anywhere outside of a few sections of Bangkok, it is very 3rd world. 

 

The truth is Thaikand should have participated in the Covax program, and likely did not out of both stinginess and arrogance. 

 

Lastly, since there are likely only a few hundred thousand expats currently living in Thailand, one hopes the US had the wisdom to put a condition on this danation that we all are able to receive this vaccine. 

4 hours ago, lujanit said:

Before all the US expats say their country/embassy is not looking after them.  Consider this.

 

Embassies are not in foreign countries for the sole benefit of their citizens.  They may provide some services however they are not there for just you.

 

Embassies are in foreign countries to act as liaison between the host country and the government of country of the embassy.

 

Winge all you like but that is the truth.

Some of what you say makes sense, but the US is arguably the wealthiest country in the world, and has a moral obligation to make the world a better place. The last epidemic with similar world-wide effects as COVID-19 was the Spanish Flu, a century ago. Embassies, indeed, are not in foreign countries for the SOLE benefit of their citizens, but they should provide benefits to their citizens when essential, and COVID-19 warrants that!

 

The Chinese government took care of their citizens in Thailand, and also benefited Thailand when the Chinese donated (I think) 500,000 doses of vaccine, stipulating that their citizens be vaccinated. The French government vaccinated their citizens 55 years and older, and those with underlying conditions. Kudos to both countries!

 

A conservative estimate of the COVID-19 deaths around the world is 4.2 millions! Knowing how politicians obfuscate, I take those figures with several tablespoons of salt! I think that in such a situation, the US is morally obligated to provide vaccines to its citizens abroad!