Six million Thai senior citizens still not boosted against COVID-19

[webfact]

 

Many Thai people, including about six million senior citizens, are still not vaccinated with third COVID-19 vaccine because they are either concerned about the possible side effects or think that a booster jab is unnecessary, according to Dr. Taweesap Siraprapasiri, a specialist at the Department of Disease Control.

 

He said, however, that 43% of elderly people have received three doses of vaccine, while only about 40% of other age groups have received three.

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

If Thailand is to open its doors wider to overseas arrivals and if it does not want hospitals to be packed with severe cases again, he stressed the need for Thai people to be vaccinated with three doses in whichever combination, such as Sinovac-Sinovac-AstraZeneca or AstraZeneca-AstraZeneca-Pfizer, noting that the efficacy of the two formulae in preventing severe symptoms is the same.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/six-million-thai-senior-citizens-still-not-boosted-against-covid-19/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-05-26

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

[DirtyHarry55]

What I have heard they're worried that old people will die if they take the vaccine.

[Pedrogaz]

I must confess that I am one who has not sought a booster. After having severe long term side effects after the first two doses, I am reluctant to have a third shot in case it kills me, or ruins my health permanently.

 

 

[Neeranam]

26 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

I must confess that I am one who has not sought a booster. After having severe long term side effects after the first two doses, I am reluctant to have a third shot in case it kills me, or ruins my health permanently.

I was pretty sick after Astra vaccine.

I wasn't going to get the Moderna booster but someone suggested get 50% dose.

Glad I did get it a month ago as I got Covid last week with nothing worse than a sore throat and tiredness. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, DirtyHarry55 said:

What I have heard they're worried that old people will die if they take the vaccine.

Serious side effects actually caused by COVID vaccines are extremely rare....

 

But on the flip side, older people dying from COVID, especially the unvaccinated ones, has been sadly all too common.

 

The older you are, the greater your health risk from COVID, especially if you also have also contributing health risk factor conditions, which many older Thais probably also have.

 

Superstitions aside, getting a COVID vaccine and booster for those folks ought to be a no-brainer.

 

[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

senior citizens, are still not vaccinated

I am 78 years old and an insulin dependent Type 2 diabetic taking medication for blood pressure. 

This morning I went for my second booster vaccination and no problems so far (as with the previous three jabs).  All jabs were free here in Siem Reap however my combination is Sinovac-Sinovac-Sinovac-Sinovac. I have not experienced any ill effects whatsoever and have never been tested for Covid-19.

[swm59nj]

But it it’s going to be considered an endemic .  Sounds logical 

[Tony125]

8 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

I am 78 years old and an insulin dependent Type 2 diabetic taking medication for blood pressure. 

This morning I went for my second booster vaccination and no problems so far (as with the previous three jabs).  All jabs were free here in Siem Reap however my combination is Sinovac-Sinovac-Sinovac-Sinovac. I have not experienced any ill effects whatsoever and have never been tested for Covid-19.

One of your booster shots should have been an Mrna vaccine or AstraZeneca. You see that China is locking down cities again and not allowing their citizens to travel mainly because their Sinovac/sinopharm vaccines are weak and inefective against omicron and new strains of Covid.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chinas-bet-on-homegrown-mrna-vaccines-holds-back-nation/ar-AAXDUnY?li=BBnb7Kz

[Burma Bill]

27 minutes ago, Tony125 said:

One of your booster shots should have been an Mrna vaccine or AstraZeneca.

Unfortunately, not available to the general public. Limited vaccine supplies donated under the COVAX Agreement are used for front line workers and controlled by the Government. It's Sinovac or Sinopharm. 

[RobU]

11 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Unfortunately, not available to the general public. Limited vaccine supplies donated under the COVAX Agreement are used for front line workers and controlled by the Government. It's Sinovac or Sinopharm. 

My Fiance in Nong Khai has had 1 sinopharm and 2 Astra Zeneca. I had to pester her to get the booster she thought she didn't need it because she thinks the new strain is mild

[Stargeezr]

It is a shame that so many seniors in Thailand have not gotten their vaccines.

   That shows just how much concern the Thailand government has for the senior population.

      My Thai family has paid good money to get the good quality vaccines, when they showed up in 

Bangkok. I am thankful that they have all gotten the vaccine including the children.

[Mac Mickmanus]

6 minutes ago, Stargeezr said:

.

   That shows just how much concern the Thailand government has for the senior population.

      .

Vaccines have been provided by the Government , its just that some people havent had it done .

   Cannot criticise the Government for people makin their own decisions 

[Tony125]

21 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

I must confess that I am one who has not sought a booster. After having severe long term side effects after the first two doses, I am reluctant to have a third shot in case it kills me, or ruins my health permanently.

 

 

What shots caused  bad reaction with You?   I had 2 Astrazeneca , 2nd shot after 11 hrs caused me to have chills, temperature, shaking and  muscle pain. Woke up in morning and was fine.  Had a Pfizer  booster had a little temperature and pain at injection site woke up next day and was fine.

[Tony125]

9 hours ago, Stargeezr said:

It is a shame that so many seniors in Thailand have not gotten their vaccines.

   That shows just how much concern the Thailand government has for the senior population.

      My Thai family has paid good money to get the good quality vaccines, when they showed up in 

Bangkok. I am thankful that they have all gotten the vaccine including the children.

I live in Bangkok/Pattaya, I and all Thai family members have had the shots/boosters for free at various centers. Unfortunately I have Thai friends whose parents are in rural (Issarn) areas and they refuse to take the shots. They can get them AZ, Pfizer for free  but won't get them.

[2 is 1]

If you have had omicron after 2 jabs , you dont need booster shot. Sadly in Thailand superstition and hear say information are main information in many groups. They should start to move inside the villages to give shot's. Many old people dont go line up for get one.

[Sheryl]

Neither of the reasons stated are correct. In most cases. They should spend some time actually talking to the people to find out what the barriers are .

 

It is especially difficult for the elderly to get vaccinated. Vaccination sites are in urban areas, a long trip more many. They are crowded and often hot  (at least in the registration and initial wait area) with no provision for elderly or disabled...they have to stand for a long time in the heat like everyone else (this after what may have been an hour or more trip to get there). 

 

And on top of this, often sent home to try again another day because the site is out of vaccine.

 

Has happened to many elderly Thais I know. They want the vaccine but it is  very difficult and exhausting to obtain. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The latest govt vaccination reports:

 

Only 44% of Thailand's older population 60 and above has received their third dose COVID booster shot.

 

https://www.facebook.com/informationcovid19/photos/a.106455480972785/570635124554816/?type=3

 

Only 40% of the general population has received their third dose COVID booster shot.

 

https://www.facebook.com/informationcovid19/photos/a.106455480972785/570635097888152/?type=3

 

Neither share is sufficient to protect well against the Omicron variant of COVID, which really requires at least 3 doses for adequate protection. Two doses only won't do it.

 

Edited May 27, 2022 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[RobU]

On 5/26/2022 at 9:38 AM, Burma Bill said:

I am 78 years old and an insulin dependent Type 2 diabetic taking medication for blood pressure. 

This morning I went for my second booster vaccination and no problems so far (as with the previous three jabs).  All jabs were free here in Siem Reap however my combination is Sinovac-Sinovac-Sinovac-Sinovac. I have not experienced any ill effects whatsoever and have never been tested for Covid-19.

I think you have been misled, as I said,  my fiance received 1 sinovac then 2 AstraZennecer as per government policy she is not a frontline worker. Perhaps you are being subjected to racial discrimination as a foreigner

[Burma Bill]

30 minutes ago, RobU said:

I think you have been misled, as I said,  my fiance received 1 sinovac then 2 AstraZennecer as per government policy she is not a frontline worker. Perhaps you are being subjected to racial discrimination as a foreigner

Thank you for your reply, and with the greatest respect, is your fiance Khmer and living in Cambodia? I made several enquiries regarding the availability of Astrazenica vaccine (including possible purchase at a private hospital) but with no success. I even placed a post in the Cambodian Forum of ASEAN NOW - not one reply. Even the Royal Angkor Hospital (Bangkok Hospital - Dusit Group) could not help. There certainly is no racial discrimination and I am treated exactly the same as the local Khmers by very helpful and experienced medical staff at the Government Provincial Hospital in Siem Reap. The limited batches of donated Astrazenica and Pfizer vaccines were used on essential staff such as Government Officials, Civil Servants, Medical personnel, Teachers and Police/Immigration/Military etc.. I am a retiree and "non- essential" so along with the rest of the public it is still Sinovac or Sinopharm.

[RobU]

18 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Thank you for your reply, and with the greatest respect, is your fiance Khmer and living in Cambodia? I made several enquiries regarding the availability of Astrazenica vaccine (including possible purchase at a private hospital) but with no success. I even placed a post in the Cambodian Forum of ASEAN NOW - not one reply. Even the Royal Angkor Hospital (Bangkok Hospital - Dusit Group) could not help. There certainly is no racial discrimination and I am treated exactly the same as the local Khmers by very helpful and experienced medical staff at the Government Provincial Hospital in Siem Reap. The limited batches of donated Astrazenica and Pfizer vaccines were used on essential staff such as Government Officials, Civil Servants, Medical personnel, Teachers and Police/Immigration/Military etc.. I am a retiree and "non- essential" so along with the rest of the public it is still Sinovac or Sinopharm.

Apologies I thought that you were in Thailand and your comment was about Thailand, since this is is a discussion about people in Thailand not Cambodia. I have no Idea what the protocols of countries outside Thailand are. I have no idea what is happening in Cambodia. So your original comment was not really relevant to the discussion, I am not familiar with place names and locations

Edited May 28, 2022 by RobU

[arithai12]

On 5/27/2022 at 12:25 AM, Burma Bill said:

Unfortunately, not available to the general public. Limited vaccine supplies donated under the COVAX Agreement are used for front line workers and controlled by the Government. It's Sinovac or Sinopharm. 

I consider myself as "general public", or even one step lower because I am in fact a guest in this country, also not married to a Thai. Yet I had no problems to get 2 AZ last year, then a Pfizer for my booster. A few weeks ago I decided to get a 4th, no questions asked, I could choose Pfizer or Moderna up to me, I got Moderna. Shots 3 and 4 were walk-in without appointments.

So your post is very much at odds with my experience.

[RobU]

1 hour ago, arithai12 said:

I consider myself as "general public", or even one step lower because I am in fact a guest in this country, also not married to a Thai. Yet I had no problems to get 2 AZ last year, then a Pfizer for my booster. A few weeks ago I decided to get a 4th, no questions asked, I could choose Pfizer or Moderna up to me, I got Moderna. Shots 3 and 4 were walk-in without appointments.

So your post is very much at odds with my experience.

You are correct. BurmaBill who you are answering failed to mention that he was talking about his experience in Cambodia which of course has different protocols and availability of vaccines than Thailand which has had no problem obtaining AstraZenneca or other vaccines

Edited May 28, 2022 by RobU

[garyk]

On 5/26/2022 at 2:30 AM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Serious side effects actually caused by COVID vaccines are extremely rare....

 

But on the flip side, older people dying from COVID, especially the unvaccinated ones, has been sadly all too common.

 

The older you are, the greater your health risk from COVID, especially if you also have also contributing health risk factor conditions, which many older Thais probably also have.

 

Superstitions aside, getting a COVID vaccine and booster for those folks ought to be a no-brainer.

 

Yes I had a 68 year old neighbor that decided not to get the vaccine , he said it was a trick of the government.. he died.  Unless wast of life. His wife and kids really suffered.