Proof of Covid vaccines will be required again for ALL arrivals to Thailand

[JerseytoBKK]

8 hours ago, NanLaew said:

I've flown over 45,000 km across three continent's and in and out of half-a-dozen countries in five months and two shots is still considered "fully vaccinated".

 

A booster was recommended for the over 60's, but that's about it.

Japan is still 3 shots ever since they reopened in October. Anything less than 3 shots requires a PCR test.

[nigelforbes]

19 minutes ago, ozz1 said:

What they fail to understand is that being vaccinated doesn't stop covid or the spread it eases the symptoms it will effect the tourists numbers why not do what everyone else is doing and provide a negative test I guess they are trying to appease their masters without upsetting them

 

 

 

Do you really think the Ministry of Public Health and all the doctors in Thailand don't understand that, really? Vaccinations help prevent serious illness, hospitalisation and death, especially in older people. Right there are more than sufficient reasons to be vaccinated. If nothing else, one person being vaccinated potentially means one fewer hospital bed occupied and available for others who are very ill.

[gejohesch]

9 hours ago, sezze said:

This would be temporary , thx to the huge outbreak ( and actually 1st real wave) in China . With so many cases now in China , it is logic that some precautions are made.  Covid is not gone and will not be gone , however by far most people do not have large reactions to it anymore. Nobody wants to go back to the strong rules and i think they will not happen but some kind of precautions are needed in case it will get out of control . Remember China is huge , with a huge population, when many bring in covid at the same time you can have a mass outbreak .

Makes a lot of sense, obviously.

[redwood1]

So who thought it was a good idea to put a turd in the punch bowl....

 

The way this story has been released is a true Thai classic of bouncing all over the place.....With the story changing not only day to day but hour to hour....Different statements by different people....

With a boatload of contradictions....Misunderstandings....Backflipping....

 

This is historic....

Folks it just does not get any better than this for a true Thai mismash of confusing direction and policy...

 

And it all started with there will be absolutely no extra requirements or restrictions placed on the Chinese or anyone else...

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The first flights from China, in the wake of the announcement from China, are scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport on January 12. So the time for the re-introduction of the measures will be sometime from now until January 12… the Minister was not clear on this.

Are they ever clear about any measure they adopt.

[nigelforbes]

8 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

So who thought it was a good idea to put a turd in the punch bowl....

 

The way this story has been released is a true Thai classic of bouncing all over the place.....With the story changing not only day to day but hour to hour....Different statements by different people....

With a boatload of contradictions....Misunderstandings....Backflipping....

 

This is historic....

Folks it just does not get any better than this for a true Thai mismash of confusing direction and policy...

 

And it all started with there will be absolutely no extra requirements or restrictions placed on the Chinese or anyone else...

 

 

 

So very excitable, calm down!

 

I think the approach is quite clever. The requirement for Chinese tourists to have medical insurance is based solely on the entry requirements of China to show a negative test result. If of course the  test is positive, they must be treated hence the need for insurance to ensure their treatment is paid for. These are not Thai regulations, they are the result of Chinese regulations.

 

And the requirement for everyone to have been vaccinated is a common sense ruling that applies to many countries, move on, there's nothing to see here.

 

 

 

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, rbkk said:

Genuine question: How long is a Covid-19 vaccine/booster "Valid" for travel? I'm off next week for a short trip and I've had 4 in total but the last booster was about 9 months ago. Do I now need a "Top-up?"

The answer to your question depends on where you are traveling to and their entry policy.

There is no ONE answer.

[jacko45k]

8 hours ago, JackGats said:

There we go again.

 

I was planning a 4-night visit to Angkor day after tomorrow. I am cancelling, as it is not certain I will be allowed back into Thailand.

Seems extreme....

You would have been arriving with the first lots of Chinese. 

[ezzra]

Just incase you missed the international news, many countries are now worried to very worried about the imminent spread of the Corvid Omicron's XBB.1.5 strain where the XBB had a mutation that helped it beat the body's immune defenses, but this same quality also reduced its ability to infect human cells,

and as such I'm for all and any measures all governments will take to keep said possible calamity at bay...

[claffey]

Does this apply to Thai citizens who live in China but want to return home for a visit? Surely they can't stop their own citizens from entering their own country? Is it only for people entering on tourists visas or stamps?

[Elkski]

Going to angor wat on the 17-20 .  Hope not to many Chinese travel there.   We did get the newest pfizer booster in November.   I was pro vax 2 years ago but now I have my doubts for many reasons.   Glad we are heading back to USA in 2 weeks as I think this is going to turn into a stinky disaster for Thailand. 

[Warren6]

I find it ironic this is done in large part under the pressure of eliminating prejudice against China, but in reality it's extremely prejudice to many developing countries, where most have double vaccination rates well below 20%. It's also ridiculous given the Chinese vaccine has been proven to be significantly more ineffective at around just 50%.

 

In some ways these are the most extreme measures yet if you're not double vaccinated, since now you have absolutely no way of getting into Thailand. Whereas before you could have at least done Alternative Quarantine.

 

Just the massively rushed timing and general nature of these new restrictions seem to be more of a knee-jerk reaction. Plenty of Chinese have been flying about for weeks with almost zero restrictions or requirements. For example on January 2nd, 30% of mainland Chinese arrivals in Taiwan tested positive on arrival. The damage is already done. Just like it was back in 2019/2020.

 

Anyway politics aside, does anyone have a reasonable estimation how long these new requirements will stay active? I'm guessing at least 3 months? I mean, they're not going to announce this and then a week from now drop it. What is the usual timeframe on this sort of policy?

 

Curious to know what people think in regards to that

[Warren6]

5 hours ago, ozimoron said:

China's issue is that they have a low rate of vaccination, hence the hospitals are full right now and the virus is exploding.

The Chinese have one of the highest vaccination rates on the planet. Over 90% of their population is double vaccinated:

 

https://ycharts.com/indicators/china_coronavirus_full_vaccination_rate

 

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/covid-vaccinations-tracker.html

[at15]

35% of the world is Unjected, with 140+ countries open to them with zero restrictions. I have never seen such an epic disaster for thailand.

[NanLaew]

4 hours ago, London Lowf said:

I was in Thailand from October last year until a couple of weeks ago - no Covid restrictions but I carried two paper copies of my vaccination certificate anyway - things can change fast!

My friend flew in from the UK a few days back for a 30-day vacation here. I reminded him that he didn't need proof of vaccination to enter Thailand. He's 65, fully (2) vaccinated and double (2) boostered. I also told him to bring the proof anyway as  things may be different next month when he wants to go home.

[Cake Monster]

11 hours ago, ozimoron said:

Good. Hospitals around the world are being overwhelmed again and Thailand doesn't want to follow suit.

And because of the contemptuous lack of transparency by the CCP with regard to the numbers/strain  Etc of infections within the Country, who can believe a word they say.

Future Chinese Tourists may well be travelling around the Globe with a newer, more virulent Covid strain never seen outside the Country, which makes it very dangerous indeed.

And because of the self isolation the Nation placed themselves in over Covid, nobody knows !

This is the main reason the WHO are requesting information and correct data from the Chinese, and any Country that allows in these Chinese Tourists before all the Data is correlated and correct and proper advice been issued World wide is really playing a very dangerous game of Russian Roulette with not just their peoples health, but their Economies as well.

Governments Globally will not wish to get burned a second time by these Tourists.

[sungod]

3 hours ago, habuspasha said:

I don't understand why so many posters are trying to get by with the least protection.  I had my 5th Moderna in September before my Oct visit and am planning on getting a 6th before my next visit at end of this month.  Shots are said to be full strenth effective for 2-5 months.  Why not take advantage of what is available?  I'm 81, but I would do it if I were 20 years younger.

Because i got it the other day, nothing more than a sore throat for a couple of days, had 2 shots over a year ago.

[rabang]

1 hour ago, ezzra said:

Just incase you missed the international news, many countries are now worried to very worried about the imminent spread of the Corvid Omicron's XBB.1.5 strain where the XBB had a mutation that helped it beat the body's immune defenses, but this same quality also reduced its ability to infect human cells,

and as such I'm for all and any measures all governments will take to keep said possible calamity at bay...

If you stop following the news the problem practically goes away. Isn't it wonderful?

[brianthainess]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

from China, are scheduled to arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport on January 12.

 

12 hours ago, internationalism said:

“Visitors won’t be required to produce proof of vaccination at this time”.

Maybe bcoz itis only the 6th

[brianthainess]

12 hours ago, NanLaew said:

They're just playing follow the leader. The US says they will test arrivals from China, The UK says "no plans" for tests. Twenty-four hours later, UK requires tests. The EU said they won't and Von der Leyen herself goes on the record saying it's discriminatory.  Twenty-for hours later, the EU follow the herd. The US sees Xi's U-turn on zero-covid at home as a moment of weakness and plays the the rest of the world.

 

Why does EVERYTHING have to be a Thai bash?

 

12 hours ago, NanLaew said:

They're just playing follow the leader. The US says they will test arrivals from China, The UK says "no plans" for tests. Twenty-four hours later, UK requires tests. The EU said they won't and Von der Leyen herself goes on the record saying it's discriminatory.  Twenty-for hours later, the EU follow the herd. The US sees Xi's U-turn on zero-covid at home as a moment of weakness and plays the the rest of the world.

 

Why does EVERYTHING have to be a Thai bash?

And Morocco have banned all Chinese

[WhatsNext]

Great idea, as the protection provided by the vaccines wanes over time and many have had the shots now more than 2 years ago. Also many have had covid without the shots which provides much better protection than the shots, but of course politicians are not that smart and don't include those.

 

So if this materializes, here we go again not able to leave Thailand for a family visit because of a flu that is less dangerous than the flu, for which the vaccines are expired and don't work. The world is crazy and Thailand is in the top 5. 

 

The smart thing would be to just not accept any flights from China for the next 3 months and don't bother the other 90% of people. 

[brianthainess]

11 hours ago, bang saen guy said:

Does Sinovac actually count?

That's all the Chinese have got, they refused vaccines from other countries. 

[NanLaew]

36 minutes ago, Cake Monster said:

Future Chinese Tourists may well be travelling around the Globe with a newer, more virulent Covid strain never seen outside the Country, which makes it very dangerous indeed.

The scientists, virologists and specialists in that field say that China is very unlikely to be the source of any new Covid variants.

 

Unfortunately, some politicians think otherwise.

[pomchop]

12 hours ago, matchar said:

The key word is SHOULD. People should not listen to government suggestions but decide for themselves.

 

Wearing a mask is not compulsory.

All visitors and politicians SHOULD have a brain.  But do they?

[brianthainess]

So how are all you anti-vaxxers feeling today ?

[NanLaew]

11 hours ago, 3NUMBAS said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64164306

 

new strain on the march

 

A new Covid sub-variant is causing some concern in the US, where it is spreading rapidly.

Some cases have been recorded in the UK, so what do you need to know about XBB.1.5?

"NHS England has said the fears of a "twindemic" of Covid and flu have already been realised, with both viruses putting strain on an already stretched NHS. "

 

So absolutely nothing to do with systemic and chronic underfunding of the NHS by successive Tory governments then? Just the pesky Covid and seasonal flu again?

 

It's all politics.

[brianthainess]

14 minutes ago, WhatsNext said:

Great idea, as the protection provided by the vaccines wanes over time and many have had the shots now more than 2 years ago. Also many have had covid without the shots which provides much better protection than the shots, but of course politicians are not that smart and don't include those.

 

So if this materializes, here we go again not able to leave Thailand for a family visit because of a flu that is less dangerous than the flu, for which the vaccines are expired and don't work. The world is crazy and Thailand is in the top 5. 

 

The smart thing would be to just not accept any flights from China for the next 3 months and don't bother the other 90% of people. 

The other smart thing would to already be vaccinated.

[mikebell]

12 hours ago, Boomer6969 said:

Yes. Whether you travel or not.

Where in Pattaya; looking for Pfizer.

[jacko45k]

Just now, mikebell said:

Where in Pattaya; looking for Pfizer.

Did you try the Pattaya City Hospital?

[NanLaew]

1 minute ago, brianthainess said:

So how are all you anti-vaxxers feeling today ?

My Canadian "pure blood" buddy delayed his visit to Thailand until his government let him out. He is quite upset right now since he had already decided he'd come here for a vacation some time after the Daytona 500.

 

You snooze, you lose, eh?