Walk-in Pfizer vaccinations for free from now until 25 January

[anchadian]

Central World in conjunction with the Department of Health are offering walk-in Pfizer vaccination for free from now until 25 January, 10am-8pm on the 5th floor, Atrium zone (in front of the entrance to the Central Department Store). Bring your passport or pink ID card. #Bangkok

 

https://twitter.com/RichardBarrow/status/1616615849724641280

 

[ehs818]

Is the vaccine being offered the new Bivalent Vaccine, or simply the exising Pfizer that has already been available for the last 18 months? I'm looking for the new one! Thanks.....

[anchadian]

No further info available although you could call them 02 203 2883.

[lopburi3]

9 minutes ago, ehs818 said:

Is the vaccine being offered the new Bivalent Vaccine, or simply the exising Pfizer that has already been available for the last 18 months? I'm looking for the new one! Thanks.....

Believe safe to say it is the existing Pfizer as there has been no attempt to obtain new.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

A bunch of non-credible anti-vax rubbish and unsourced claims, as usual.

 

OP, thanks for posting the vax offer info.

 

I'm assuming the offer is for the original Pfizer vaccines, as I've heard nothing publicly from the MoPH about what they originally said were their plans to acquire the bivalent vaccines for use in 2023.

 

https://thainewsroom.com/2022/09/06/ministry-moving-to-purchase-updated-covid-vaccines/

 

[lopburi3]

10 minutes ago, whereyougo said:

Being Pfizer and had a high fever and body pain worse than the covid. I googled and turns out 1 in 10 people suffer serious side effects

Check again - suspect you will find it is more like 1 in 1,000 (10.1 in 10,000).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36055877/

[Rimmer]

A misleading troll post and replies have been removed also an unattributed post

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

15 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Check again - suspect you will find it is more like 1 in 1,000 (10.1 in 10,000).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36055877/

 

The accuracy and validity/legitimacy of that article and its methods has been challenged by credible sources, such as the review article below in Science-Based Medicine:

 

Peer review fail: Vaccine publishes antivax propaganda disguised as “reanalyses” of Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial data

 

"In order portray COVID-19 vaccines as dangerous, Peter Doshi has now managed to get poorly designed and performed “reanalyses” of the clinical trial data used by the FDA to grant emergency use approval of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines published in two reputable journals, The BMJ and Vaccine? What happened?"

 

"Now that the paper, whose flaws and misleading nature were discussed in great detail by many scientists (which I will discuss in a moment), as well as by our very own Dr. Jonathan Howard and Dr. Harriet Hall, has somehow inexplicably gone from preprint to peer-reviewed publication in Vaccine, the onslaught started again."

 

https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/peer-review-fail-vaccine-publishes-antivax-propaganda/

 

As for the creds of Science-Based Medicine:

 

"Overall, we rate Science-Based Medicine Pro-Science based on the use of scientific sources and support for the consensus of science. We also rate them Very-High for factual reporting due to scientific sourcing and a clean fact check record."

 

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/science-based-medicine/

 

 

In short, for reasons explained in the Science-Based Medicine review article above, even the 1 in 1,000 claim from the anti-vax journal article you cited isn't legitimate or based in any reality.

 

 

[RayOday]

I wrote to two of the best known International Hospitals in BKK regarding when the bi-valent would be available. They were honest and said they don't know and might expect the end of the first quarter 2023. All said with the caveat that it is up to the government.

 

I have had 3 AZ + 1 Moderna and am now just battling this beast. Like a flu on steroids. One thing that I believe has kept me out of hospital is as soon as my lungs became inflamed I started using a Symbicort inhaler. The inflammation was reduced greatly after first 2x. Google Symbicort and COVID to read the science. Symbicort isn't made in TH so it isn't cheap yet well worth it. Cheaper than the hospital. I am totally enervated yet on track back to normal. This virus is something I don't want to experience twice. 

[Aussieroaming]

I got a Pfizer booster (no charge) at the local public clinic in Saphan Kwai a couple of days ago. There are 8 public hospitals and clinics in Bangkok (that my wife could find) currently doing the boosters. Ours was a walk in first come first serve clinic, whilst some hospitals required a booking and a small fee for foreigners. Ring a public hospital to see which ones are offering the boosters. None were offering Moderna, all were giving Pfizer.

 

Unlike some posters here I did not get any adverse symptoms at all from the booster, unlike earlier shots, so I assume that my immunity must have increased from previous boosters and covid (x2).

 

[Chongalulu]

About 4 weeks ago I found a small set up in Lotus Pak Chong offering free Pfizer which I took . Filled in form ,Showed my passport and previous vaccination record certificate indicating my 3 prior shots ( 2 brumrungrad and 1 in Central,Korat). This one didn’t issue any paperwork/updated certificates but they said it would be on my Mor prom app in 2 weeks .Just checked and it’s not updated on there. 
I don’t have details of who did the last one,so is there any way of getting my record updated on the app ? 

[rattlesnake]

The comments under the tweet are very encouraging.

 

In a nutshell: <deleted> off!

[MrJ2U]

7 hours ago, ehs818 said:

Bivalent Vaccine

Government chose not to order them.  There are no Bivalent vaccines available in Thailand unfortunately as all purchases of Covid vaccines must go through the government channels.

 

 

"The Royal Gazette on Thursday published a Public Health Ministry announcement cancelling the decree dated October 9, 2020 that had allowed the ministry to procure Covid-19 vaccines to protect the public interest, control the outbreak or maintain national security.

The latest announcement, dated October 31, 2022 and signed by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, said the Covid-19 situation was improving globally according to World Health Organisation data showing the mortality rate is now the lowest since March 2020.

 

The government revoked the pandemic emergency decree on October 1, while the ministry also downgraded Covid-19 from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance, said the announcement.

 

 Thailand’s stock of Covid-19 vaccine is now sufficient to meet demand and there is no need to procure additional vaccine, it added."

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/policies/40021707

[Antiparovian]

Where is this Central World? I live in Nong Khai.

[lopburi3]

1 hour ago, Antiparovian said:

Where is this Central World? I live in Nong Khai.

Central Bangkok.  On the old Thai Diamaru Department Store site.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_Daimaru

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

1 hour ago, MrJ2U said:

Government chose not to order them.  There are no Bivalent vaccines available in Thailand unfortunately as all purchases of Covid vaccines must go through the government channels.

 

 

"The Royal Gazette on Thursday published a Public Health Ministry announcement cancelling the decree dated October 9, 2020 that had allowed the ministry to procure Covid-19 vaccines to protect the public interest, control the outbreak or maintain national security.

The latest announcement, dated October 31, 2022 and signed by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, said the Covid-19 situation was improving globally according to World Health Organisation data showing the mortality rate is now the lowest since March 2020.

 

The government revoked the pandemic emergency decree on October 1, while the ministry also downgraded Covid-19 from a dangerous communicable disease to a communicable disease under surveillance, said the announcement.

 

 Thailand’s stock of Covid-19 vaccine is now sufficient to meet demand and there is no need to procure additional vaccine, it added."

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/policies/40021707

I remember that announcement. But I also seem to remember subsequent to that, it was clarified that Thailand still was going to be acquiring the newer vaccines, if not by the MoPH directly, then by the GPO and/or private hospitals.

 

But, until we hear something more recent and authoritative on the issue, who knows!

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

4 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Central Bangkok.  On the old Thai Diamaru Department Store site.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_Daimaru

 

You're dating yourself! 

 

I go back a long ways here... but that name even predates my arrival!

 

I believe the original name of the current mall, that opened in 1990, was the ill-named (based on later U.S. events) World Trade Center. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

When the bivalent vaccines were first launched in the West, there were very mixed signals about just how effective they were, and whether they really were an improvement over the original versions. Some initial reports and analysis said they were not.

 

However, subsequent and expanded research and studies on the bivalent vaccines after they've been in use in various countries for months seems to have turned the tide and the latest and more recent research seems to in fact show them as more effective against serious illness, hospitalization and death than their predecessors.

 

However, in looking today, I found one Thai media source earlier this month that claimed the Thai MoPH ended up canceling their plans to acquire the bivalent vaccines based on the early and ultimately countermanded research findings about about the newer vaccines, which if true would be a bad move on Thailand's part.

 

Here's that Thai media report, not sure how credible or authoritative it is:

 

Thai bivalent strains of the COVID-2 vaccine do not have to be imported.

Health Underwood World 6 days ago

 

...

"Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Health, said he had received information on medical and academic advice. covid vaccineThe original and the new. 2 strains of COVID vaccine The effect of using a needle to stimulate the immune system is similar. Therefore, it is not necessary to consider importing it to be used as a stimulant needle in Thailand at this time. will definitely not be stuck at him.

 

Dr. Tares Krassanairawiwong The Director-General of the Department of Disease Control (Kor.) gave information that there was no need to order at this time."

 

(more)

 

https://thailand.postsen.com/health/100791/Thai-bivalent-strains-of-the-COVID-2-vaccine-do-not-have-to-be-imported.html

 

Unfortunately for Thailand, more recent research and reports as the newer bivalent vaccines have been in use in the U.S. and elsewhere say they DO have protection advantages over the original versions..... and no different safety profile.

 

"our vaccines have continued to be protective against severe disease as the virus mutates, including the bivalent boosters currently available that were modeled after the BA.4/BA.5 subvariants. Lab studies have found that new boosters neutralize XBB.1.5 as well as BA.5, according to Topol's report, and that XBB.1.5's and BA.5's spike proteins have more in common."

 

https://www.cnet.com/health/medical/vaccine-effectiveness-available-covid-treatments-what-to-know-about-xbb-1-5/

 

Bivalent COVID-19 boosters may cut risk of severe disease by more than half

Updated bivalent (two-strain) mRNA booster shots, which target the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 sublineages of COVID-19 and the original strain, cut the risk of contracting severe COVID-19 by up to 57%, according to a study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report today, but most Americans have yet to get the shot since they were made available on Sep 1.

 

A second study today in the same journal shows the bivalent boosters are particularly effective at preventing hospitalizations in elderly Americans.

 

(more)

 

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/bivalent-covid-19-boosters-may-cut-risk-severe-disease-more-half

 

The above article cites the following recent study from the U.S. CDC:

Early Estimates of Bivalent mRNA Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department or Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalizations Among Immunocompetent Adults — VISION Network, Nine States, September–November 2022

What is added by this report?

"Bivalent booster doses provided additional protection against COVID-19–associated emergency department/urgent care encounters and hospitalizations in persons who previously received 2, 3, or 4 monovalent vaccine doses. Because of waning of monovalent vaccine-conferred immunity, relative effectiveness of bivalent vaccines was higher with increased time since the previous monovalent dose.

 

What are the implications for public health practice?

All persons should stay up to date with recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including receiving a bivalent booster dose if eligible."

 

This is how the CDC report said the newer vaccines helped improve people's odds of avoiding COVID hospitalization, compared to being unvaccinated and compared to having prior original vaccinations at various timeframes:

 

"VE [vaccine effectiveness] of a bivalent booster dose (after 2, 3, or 4 monovalent doses) against COVID-19–associated hospitalizations was 57% compared with no vaccination, 38% compared with monovalent vaccination only with last dose 5–7 months earlier, and 45% compared with monovalent vaccination only with last dose ≥11 months earlier.

 

(more)

 

 

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm715152e1.htm

 

 

 

[lopburi3]

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

You're dating yourself! 

 

I go back a long ways here... but that name even predates my arrival!

 

I believe the original name of the current mall, that opened in 1990, was the ill-named (based on later U.S. events) World Trade Center. 

Seems like yesterday (1969) - first escalators in Thailand as I recall were in original building - later moved across street (first underground shopping area) and site of several major fires over the years - but was a prime shopping center for many years.  And yes redevelopment of original area was WTC.

[Lorry]

8 hours ago, RayOday said:

I wrote to two of the best known International Hospitals in BKK regarding when the bi-valent would be available. They were honest and said they don't know and might expect the end of the first quarter 2023. All said with the caveat that it is up to the government.

 

I have had 3 AZ + 1 Moderna and am now just battling this beast. Like a flu on steroids. One thing that I believe has kept me out of hospital is as soon as my lungs became inflamed I started using a Symbicort inhaler. The inflammation was reduced greatly after first 2x. Google Symbicort and COVID to read the science. Symbicort isn't made in TH so it isn't cheap yet well worth it. Cheaper than the hospital. I am totally enervated yet on track back to normal. This virus is something I don't want to experience twice. 

You can (maybe even should) use Pulmicort spray instead of Symbicort.

Pulmicort is easily available in Thailand. 650 Baht.

 

Pulmicort is inhaled steroids. Several studies show they are useful.

https://www.cochrane.org/CD015125/AIRWAYS_are-inhaled-corticosteroids-effective-treatment-people-mild-covid-19

 

Symbicort contains additional Formoterol. I have never heard that this has any effect on covid.

 

If you are in a risk group,  molnupiravir is available in Thai hospitals. 

[david_je]

On 1/21/2023 at 2:37 PM, Aussieroaming said:

I got a Pfizer booster (no charge) at the local public clinic in Saphan Kwai a couple of days ago. There are 8 public hospitals and clinics in Bangkok (that my wife could find) currently doing the boosters. 

May I ask which public clinic in Saphan Kwai and what are the 8 public hospitals and clinics? Thank you.

[JimTripper]

I got the Pfizer vax but have been reading so much anti vax stuff, on YouTube and twitter, that I’m afraid of having a heart attack.

[fusion58]

Received a Pfizer booster for no charge at Med Park Hospital two weeks ago.

Appointment required.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 1/25/2023 at 3:00 PM, JimTripper said:

I got the Pfizer vax but have been reading so much anti vax stuff, on YouTube and twitter, that I’m afraid of having a heart attack.

Most of it is false and unsubstantiated rubbish misinformation. You have far more to worry about from getting sick/ill from COVID than you do from getting a COVID vaccine that largely prevents serious COVID illness.

 

[Social Media]

Passed date.

 

CLOSED