New Pfizer COVID XBB vaccines finally become available in Thailand – for a price

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

Some six months after they made their debut in the West, the newest version of COVID vaccines has begun surfacing in Thailand among at least a handful of locations in the Bangkok area, amid almost no publicity on their arrival.

 

Unlike the Thai government’s widely publicized mass and freely provided COVID vaccines campaign of 2021 and 2022, the newly arrived Pfizer monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 vaccine thus far appears limited to a group of private hospitals and nonprofit or university clinics. Unlike their no-fee predecessors, the venues offering the new Pfizer vaccines  identified here are only available thus far by payment, starting at about 2,000 baht and up.

 

Contacts at Thailand’s Department of Disease Control within the Ministry of Public Health and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Health Department both confirmed the arrival in recent weeks of the Pfizer XBB vaccine. But neither could identify more than a handful of locations offering it, and none were outside the Bangkok region.

 

The four locations thus far confirmed to be offering the Pfizer XBB vaccine are:

--Mahidol University’s Thai Travel Clinic,

--the Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute affiliated with the Thai Red Cross Society,

--and at least two private hospitals, Bumrungrad International and Praram 9 Hospital.

[see below for further details on these sites]

 

There may be other locations, but public contact officials at the two Thai government agencies couldn’t confirm any others, and two other private hospitals they did identify turned out not to be offering the new vaccine, which seems to suggest the government is not taking the lead in this latest chapter in COVID vaccinations.

 

In fact, staff members at two of the venues offering the new Pfizer vaccine said they’re obtaining the vaccine directly from Pfizer, not from the Thai government. And when the two private hospitals that turned out to not have the new vaccine were asked why they didn’t have it, staff members there said they were waiting for some directive or policy on the new vaccine from the Thai government.

 

The Pfizer XBB vaccine is the third generation of the COVID vaccines, following on the original versions and then the bivalent versions from 2022. The new XBB vaccines were widely approved last fall to fight the then predominant XBB.1.5 variant of the COVID virus, though health officials say the new vaccines also are effective in helping prevent illness and death from the currently predominant JN.1 version of the virus.

 

The United States and the United Kingdom both approved new XBB COVID vaccines last fall, and mounted campaigns leading to many tens of millions of XBB vaccinations. The U.S. recommends the new vaccines for everyone six months and older, while the U.K. is only targeting the elderly and others considered at risk. The new single-dose vaccine is recommended both for those with prior COVID vaccinations and those without.

 

Thailand until recently still had been using the older bivalent version of COVID vaccines, no longer approved in the U.S., but those had been becoming harder to find here locally moving into this year, leaving somewhat of a local vacuum of available COVID vaccines until now.

 

Of note, the Thai government agencies and the venues offering the new vaccine said they only have the Pfizer XBB version for ages 12 and above, not the Moderna version or any others. And at least thus far, none of the four confirmed locations here are offering the two other Pfizer XBB vaccine versions available for children ages 6 months to 11 years.

 

Although COVID in Thailand now is much less severe than in 2021 and 2022, in part due to the past vaccination campaigns, Thailand is still reporting more than 600 new COVID hospitalizations per week as of last week. Reported COVID deaths thus far this year have been running in the single digits per week, although the last major spike last May and June saw those weekly COVID deaths climb into the 60s.

 

COVID deaths and hospitalizations tend to occur with seasonal peaks, with the last major peak in Thailand occurring last May and June when weekly COVID hospitalizations briefly exceeded 3,000, before declining in the fall, and then having a smaller peak into the 700s in late January and early February.

 

The World Health Organization reported a recent peak of global COVID deaths of nearly 10,000 last December among the some 50 countries still regularly reporting those numbers, with most among the elderly and people with various chronic health conditions, and about half of those deaths reported from the U.S.

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The new Pfizer COVID XBB vaccine is confirmed to be available at the following Bangkok locations:

 

Thai Travel Clinic, Mahidol University

 

 

Located in the Victory Monument area, the Thai Travel Clinic on the third floor of Mahidol University’s Hospital for Tropical Diseases may be the most transparent of the currently confirmed locations in Bangkok offering the new COVID vaccine, along with being one of the more affordable.

 

The clinic that specializes in vaccinations has an English language website – thaitravelclinic.com -- with comprehensive information about its hours of operation and other details, an online link for making the recommended advance appointment for receiving the vaccine, and clinic staff who can communicate well in English.

 

For foreigners age 12 and above whether tourist or expat, the current total price for the new COVID vaccine is about 2,100 baht for a first-time patient (1,762 baht of that for the vaccine itself), and about 100 baht less for Thais, due to the government university hospital pricing the included doctor consultation at a slightly lower rate.

 

Like the other vaccination locations listed here, expats and foreign tourists are asked to bring their passport as a form of identification, and also encouraged to bring whatever documentation they may have of their prior COVID vaccinations. Upon arrival, patients are asked to complete a detailed questionnaire on their health status and any issues such as allergies, which the doctor then reviews during the consultation prior to the vaccination.

 

Although the clinic allows walk-ins for COVID vaccinations, advance appointments are strongly encouraged, to help ensure the availability of the vaccine. Regular hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the latest time for walk-ins being 3 p.m.  The clinic also operates extended hours Monday to Thursday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cutoff time for walk-ins is one hour before closing. But the vaccine and service charges are higher during those extended hours periods.

 

As of this writing, available appointments during the clinic’s regular hours are available about two weeks into the future. Payments are accepted by cash, bank card or funds transfer. The clinic will be closed for the Song Kran holidays from April 12-16.

 

Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute

 

 

Located near the Samyan MRT station and adjoining Chamchuri Square along Rama IV Road in the Pathum Wan area, the institute is offering the new COVID vaccine for about 1,800 baht total for expats, foreign tourists and Thai citizens ages 18 and older. Service there is on a walk-in basis only. Expats and foreign tourists also are asked to bring their passport and prior COVID vaccination history.

 

Institute staff said their vaccination hours are Monday to Fridays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays 8:30 a.m. to noon. in their Rajuthit Building. The institute’s website -- www.saovabha.org/home -- doesn’t appear to offer any English language info about their COVID vaccination program. But their Facebook page did do a Thai language post with details on the new COVID vaccine in the past week.

 

In its announcement, the institute said the new vaccine is especially recommended for those who previously haven’t received any COVID vaccine, people age 60 and above, those with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women and medical personnel, but also will be available upon request to others.

 

The institute, which is offering the COVID vaccine via its ongoing Immunization and Travel Clinic, is affiliated with the nonprofit Thai Red Cross Society. The institute can be contacted by telephone at 02-252-0161.

 

Praram 9 Hospital

 

 

Located on Rama IX Road in the Huai Khwang area, Praram 9 Hospital is offering the new COVID vaccine daily between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. for an all-inclusive package price of 2,700 baht, according to their customer service staff. Vaccinations can be done on a walk-in basis or via scheduled appointment at the hospital’s Vaccination and Travel Medicine Center on the 12th floor of Building B.

 

The new COVID vaccine at Praram 9 is available to expats, foreign tourists and Thai citizens ages 12 and above, and as usual, non-Thais are asked to bring their passports and any prior COVID vaccination history. Payment is accepted by cash or bank card. The hospital’s pharmacy initially said their list price for the new vaccine alone is 3,761 baht, but then upon checking, confirmed the hospital does have the 2,700 baht all-inclusive price as a “promotion.”

 

A hospital staffer said the COVID vaccinations also will be available there even during the upcoming Song Kran holidays period. The hospital’s Call Center can be reached by calling 1270. As of this writing, there doesn’t appear to be any English language info regarding the new COVID vaccine on the hospital’s website at www.praram9.com/en/ or its Facebook page.

 

 

Bumrungrad International Hospital

 

 

Located on Sukhumvit Soi 3 in the Nana area, Bumrungrad, the most prominent private hospital in Thailand, confirmed it has begun offering the new COVID vaccine on a private payment basis. Hospital reps said they could not provide an all-inclusive price, but gave varying estimates for the vaccine itself in the 4,600 to 4,900 baht range, not including an added doctor consult fee of typically 1,000 baht or more and other hospital charges.

 

Hospital representatives said the new vaccine, approved for people ages 12 and above, is available there to expats, foreign tourists and Thais. They suggested contacting the hospital’s Contact Center at 02-066-8888, or direct to the hospital’s Medical Clinic department that is handling the vaccine, located on the 15th floor of Building A, phone 02-011-3594.

 

A hospital rep recommended arriving to that department between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily, and said the department will remain open for vaccines during the upcoming Song Kran holidays. The hospital rep said the COVID vaccine should be available there on a walk-in basis, but like elsewhere, encouraged patients to schedule an advance appointment if possible.

 

[stoner]

3 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

amid almost no publicity on their arrival.

 

no public interest.

 

5 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Reported COVID deaths thus far this year have been running in the single digits per week

 

this is why. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

If anyone becomes aware of any other locations that are offering the new COVID XBB vaccines here locally, please share that information here with others on the forum. Also, if you have any experiences in obtaining the vaccine from any of the above providers.

 

The purpose of this thread is to share practical information on the local availability of the COVID XBB vaccine -- not to debate the merits of COVID vaccinations.

 

[stats]

A post that misrepresented the findings of its cited source has been removed.

 

[KhunLA]

12 hours ago, stoner said:

 

no public interest.

 

 

this is why. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

At least in the U.K. (apparently unlike Thailand), the government there is continuing to provide the newest COVID XBB vaccines for free to those deemed most at risk, in addition to now a new pay-for-service option for the Pfizer vaccine for everyone else. Part of a growing trend involving the direct private (non-government) sale of COVID vaccines, as is now occurring in Thailand per the OP in this thread:

Boots to offer Covid vaccines in England for nearly £100 a jab

Pharmacy to offer Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to those not eligible for NHS booster shot from next week

 

Boots is to offer Covid vaccinations for almost £100 a shot, making it the latest provider to sell the jabs to those not eligible for a booster through the NHS.

...

The announcement by Boots comes as vaccination services gear up for the spring booster campaign, in which people aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and people aged six months and over with a weakened immune system will be offered another Covid jab free on the NHS.

 

However, with eligibility for this and previous campaigns limited, most healthy people have not had a booster jab since late 2021, and experts warn their protection will have waned over time.

 

(more)

 

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/26/boots-to-offer-covid-vaccines-in-england-for-nearly-100-pounds-a-jab

 

And more background on the same:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/02/pharmacies-in-england-and-scotland-to-offer-private-covid-jabs-for-45

 

 

Worth noting - three of the four Thailand venues cited in the OP here offering the newer COVID Pfizer XBB vaccine are doing so at lower prices than the Boots England offering above.

 

Edited March 27 by TallGuyJohninBKK