“All people residing in Thailand, regardless of nationality, are eligible to receive the vaccine under the plan.” The Thaiger

All foreigners eligible for Covid-19 vaccine under Thailand's vaccination plan

By 

Tanutam Thawan

Thursday, April 29, 2021

All expats living in Thailand are eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, according to deputy spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Natapanu Nopakun. He says Thailand plans to roll out a "massive vaccination plan" to vaccinate all people who are living in Thailand, including foreign residents.

"All people residing in Thailand, regardless of nationality, are eligible to receive the vaccine under the plan."

He made the announcement during the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's daily briefing today. Natapanu says more information on the vaccination plan for foreigners residing in Thailand will be released at a later date.

Health officials in Phuket and Koh Samui, tourist destinations that have been said to be of "economic significance," have already been rolling out mass vaccination campaigns in an effort to reach herd immunity and reopen the islands to foreign tourists by July.

An expat who works as an English teacher at a school in Koh Samui says he received both doses of the Chinese-made Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine this month. He says the school helped with the registration process and both doses of Covid-19 vaccine were free.

TAT launches Entry Thailand platform. Bangkok Post 29/4.

TAT launches Entry Thailand platform

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has unveiled "Entry Thailand", an online platform to facilitate vaccinated international visitors to Thailand.

The e-service, which is available at entrythailand.go.th/journey/1, is an integrated effort among 11 agencies including the Tourism and Sports Ministry, the Public Health Ministry and the Interior Ministry. It is the first step-by-step service that covers all the procedures required by the government for Thais and foreigners who want to fly to Thailand.

Step one in the process is to register for a Certificate of Entry (COE). The website will link to an online form by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after clicking on the registration button.

Step two is to book a flight and the website also shows a list of available flights. Step three is to book a quarantine accommodation and again the website has a list of alternative state quarantine, alternative local quarantine and alternative hospital quarantine facilities.

Step four is to purchase and submit proof of Covid-19 health insurance. Step five is to check COE status and prepare additional documents before travelling. The last step is to download the "Thailand Plus" app and register. The app is available on both the Apple Store and Google Play store at thailandplus.in.th/en/download.

For more details, email entrythailand@mots.go.th.

---

Pleasant Valley May



Course Changed! Government says private sector has no need to order vaccines. The Enquirer





Thailand's government, through the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said late Wednesday that the private sector and hospital groups have no need to order vaccines on their own as the government would be able to provide for all vaccine needs.

Thai Enquirer reported on Wednesday that private sector requests for the government to countersign vaccine acquisition orders were being ignored by the public health ministry. (Read more here)

The lack of government action came despite criticisms from opposition and coalition politicians over the lack of movement on vaccines and the government's stonewalling of the private sector's request.

Now, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha appears to be walking back promises made in a public address two weeks ago in which he promised to expedite and allow private hospitals to acquire their own vaccines to supplement the national pool.

The Thai Chamber of Commerce released a statement to private hospitals on Wednesday evening confirming the new direction following meetings it had with the prime minister. The statement, which was shared with the Thai Enquirer, reads as follows.

"The government has informed the Thai Chamber of Commerce that it has sourced enough vaccines to meet the requirement of every citizens, therefore the private sector does not need to buy any additional vaccines."

The news will likely spark outrage among critics of the government and the general public who accuse the Prayut administration of not doing enough to inoculate the people leading to a rapidly worsening third wave of Covid-19.

Among the major criticisms has been that the government has not moved fast enough on its vaccine acquisitions program – rejecting offers from Pfizer and Moderna in favor of Sinovacs and locally produced AstraZeneca variants.

It is unclear why the government has chosen to change directions announced just two weeks prior. Calls to Government House and the Ministry of Public Health were not returned.

Listen to this story

The Ministry of Public Health has revealed the vaccination numbers in Thailand from 28 February to 26 April 2021. The overall vaccination level on 26 April is 1,227,032 doses nationwide. The number of people who received the first dose is 1,012,388 persons, while those who received the second dose come to 214,644 persons. The ministry will open public registration for vaccination from 1 May and will start the vaccination of the public nationwide from 1 June. Source: ศูนย์ข้อมูล COVID-19



Vaccination information. PRD



🔴 BREAKING: 29/4 - 1,871 new cases and 10 deaths today bringing the total to 63,570 patients & 188 deaths. Richard Barrow



AstraZeneca vaccine production by Siam Bioscience officially approved in Thailand, to be distributed in the country and Southeast Asia in June Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 16:18. Pattaya News





National –

AstraZeneca's vaccine production in Thailand has been approved under Siam Bioscience Company Limited by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Thailand, the company's country president announced today, April 28th.

James Teague, Country President of AstraZeneca (Thailand) Co.Ltd., revealed in a press release that the company's plans to produce its Covid-19 vaccine in Thailand have made significant progress, and the first batch of the vaccine will be ready for delivery to the Thai government in June.

AstraZeneca, together with Siam Bioscience, has also been working as the "regional production hub" to ensure that the distribution will be able to make it to Thailand and another eight countries in Southeast Asia in the same exact month as well.

PHOTO: AstraZeneca

According to AstraZeneca's statement, each batch of the vaccine undergoes more than 60 quality controls during the manufacture-to-vaccination process. Siam Bioscience has been proved for its world-class vaccine product standard, as known as the Good Manufacturing Address (GMA), ensuring that the products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards.

Mr. Teague said: "AstraZeneca and our global manufacturing partners, including Siam Bioscience, are committed to maintaining the highest safety and quality standard of our products. Numerous safety tests and quality control measures are carried out at each step. We are working as quickly as possible to supply the vaccine to the Government of Thailand to overcome the ongoing pandemic."

"We all have the same objective, to get effective vaccines to everybody as quickly as possible but safely. At the core of everything we do is the health and the well-being of Thai people." Mr. Teague concluded.

TIMELINE: BBQ buffet in Bang Saen warns people who visited BBQ place in relation to Chonburi confirmed Covid – 19 cases Wednesday, 28 April 2021, 17:33. Pattaya News





Bang Saen –

The Chonburi Public Health Office last night (April 27^th) has released another warning to inform people who went to a specific BBQ buffet this month to notify health authorities and monitor their health.

KBBQ buffet Bang Saen in Mueang sub-district, Mueang Chonburi district from April 20^thto April 25^th from 10:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M..

Anyone who visited this place on those days should please take a Covid – 19 test and should not go to work until they get a test result, according to the Chonburi Public Health Office. They can call the number on the poster above if they visited this location, there are people who can speak Thai and English available.

Please inform the hospital that you visited the same place as a Covid-19 confirmed case, they continued.

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 108 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 this morning (April 28^th).

112 confirmed and new cases of Covid-19 in Chonburi, home of Pattaya, today Thursday, 29 April 2021, 8:12. Pattaya News

Chonburi, Thailand–

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 112 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 this morning (April 29^th).

This makes a total of 2,265 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 1,584 still in medical care, with two recorded deaths this week in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 679 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. Today's cases marked a very slight increase from yesterday's total of 108 cases, although over a hundred more people were recovered but with one additional recorded fatality.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi with 24, Si Racha 8, Banglamung (Pattaya) 59, Panat Nikhom 1, Sattahip 7, Ban Bueng 4, Pan Thong 3, and six patients from other provinces transferred to Chonburi for medical care.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The details on today's cases are:
1.1 808 Club Pattaya 1 person
1.2 One close contact from a confirmed case at Berlin in Bangsaen
1.3 1 close contact from confirmed patient at BONE PUB.
1.4 3 close contacts from confirmed case at Top one, Ratchada, Bangkok, 
1.5 4 confirmed patients for other entertainment venues in Mueang Chon Buri District

1 from the KBBQ shop

Snooker table, Ban Bueng night market, 1 case

Four patients from "other" establishments with no name given

5.1 1 confirmed patient from a previous case in Pathum Thani Province
5.2 3 confirmed Bangkok patients from previous case
5.3 1 confirmed patient from previous case in Nonthaburi Province
5.4 1 confirmed patient from previous case in Phuket
5.5 5 confirmed patients from previous case in Rayong Province
5.6 7 confirmed patients from previous case in Samut Prakan 
5.7 1 confirmed patient from previous case in Ayutthaya Province
6. Medical personnel one case

An additional 36 close contacts and family members of previously confirmed cases in Chonburi

In the process of investigation currently are 40 cases.

The details on the additional death were not given.

-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-

In the last day, a total of 124 close contacts were being tested from contact tracing, and 956 people were being tested in proactive testing when medical staff goes out into the community. All are pending results. Additionally another 1,044 people were tested from mobile testing vans and are also waiting for results as officials step up aggressive community testing.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Chonburi officials are asking people to continue to stay home, socially distance, and follow other Covid-19 related measures to control the situation.

UPDATE: Only seven provinces left not enforcing the compulsory mask wearing law. As the list is changing daily, my advice is to #WearAMask at all times when you leave your place of residence. Full list in English: http://www.thainewsreports.com/2021/04/21/20000-baht-fine-if-you-dont-wear-a-face-mask-in-these-provinces . Richard Barrow



Lockdown proposed for Bangkok and five other Deep Red zone provinces. General Nataphol Narkpanich, secretary-general of the National Security Council and head of the CCSA subcommittee, said today (Wednesday) that the proposed lockdowns are part of the panel’s proposals, to be considered by the CCSA, which change the classifications of Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Chiang Mai and Chon Buri to Deep Red, due to their high infection rates. PBS World

Lockdown proposed for Bangkok and five other Deep Red zone provinces

views  14,352

The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), headed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, will be asked to impose lockdowns in the six Deep Red zone provinces, where the rates of new infections are not slowing.

General Nataphol Narkpanich, secretary-general of the National Security Council and head of the CCSA subcommittee, said today (Wednesday) that the proposed lockdowns are part of the panel's proposals, to be considered by the CCSA, which change the classifications of Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Chiang Mai and Chon Buri to Deep Red, due to their high infection rates.

The fact that more than 2,000 new infections have been recorded every day since April 23rd is a clear indication that the existing measures are insufficient to contain the disease, said the general.

Besides the six Deep Red provinces, 55 others will be classified as Red zones and the remaining 16 as Orange zones. There are no more Yellow and Green zones.

General Nataphol said that the CCSA subcommittee willpropose that eateries in the Deep Red and Red zones will only be allowed to accept take-home or delivery orders.

The Red Zone provinces are:  Krabi, Kanchanaburi, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Khon Kaen, Chanthaburi, Chachoengsao, Chaiyaphum, Chumpon, Chiang Rai, Trang, Uttradit, Tak, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Roi-et, Sakhon Nakhon, Surin, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nakhon Sawan, Maha Sarakham, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Narathiwat, Pattani, Ayutthaya, Phatthalung, Phichit, Phitsanuloke, Phetchaburi, Phetchabun, Phuket, Yala, Ranong, Rayong, Ratchaburi, Lop Buri, Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Si Sa Ket, Sakhon Nakhon, Songkhla, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaeo, Saraburi, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri and Surat Thani. 

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏Police raids find NO PROSTITUTION in PATTAYA👏👏👏👏👏👏👏😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Police raids find NO PROSTITUTION in PATTAYA

April 28, 2021

Police find no prostitution in Pattaya

Pattaya's local media ran a story last week revealing dozens of prostitutes have been playing their trade behind a gas station in the northern district of the city.

As classy as this sounds, police chiefs quickly ordered their finest response teams into the area. But when they arrived on the scene, three days later, they were surprised to find nobody there.

The entire area was quiet and the secluded bars were all closed and with their lights turned off.

The police chiefs then proudly pointed out that they were not surprised at all to find nobody there.

'There is no prostitution going on in Pattaya,' one of them might have said. 'Oh, no no, not on our watch. We have this city under control alright. Look, you see, here is all the evidence you need. There is nobody here.' (continues below)

A few nights earlier journalists had reported over fifty scantily dressed girls and boys milling around and openly offering sexual services for as little as 1200 baht.

Few of them were wearing face muzzles and potential customers casually browsed the products and fingered the goodies.

Photographers claimed the images they shared were taken on April 23rd, but Pattaya's finest law enforcement dismissed this report as a filthy lie.

They have insisted this is FAKE NEWS and that the images had been taken years ago, long before they had arrived to clean up the image of this quiet little family fishing village.

'Hookers..? I can't see any hookers, can you sarge…?' 

Några bilder och ord ! (2)

Beachen är nu stängd igen sedan några dagar tillbaka. Kan inte uttala mig om hur det var i helgen men från i måndags har jag koll.
De andra bilderna visar en påbörjad byggnation på vägen mot Angsila Road.
En lustigkurre försökte på stapplig engelska få mig att tro att det skulle bli en kombinerad restaurang och kafé i 2 etage men då jag starkt tvivlade på det och bad honom göra ett nytt försök så återkom han med beskedet att det skulle bli ett Sport Center. Högt i tak så det kanske är stavhopp som står på menyn.
"To be continued" som det brukar heta.

Några bilder och ord !



IMPORTANT: Due to the spread of #COVID19, Thailand Post will temporarily suspend delivery to all foreign countries until 4 May. However, you can still use the following services: ✅ Courier Post ✅ Logis Post World ✅ International Postage via Land & Sea. Richard Barrow



 

Det blir fler och fler och fler...



28/4

 

EXCLUSIVE: Government inaction blocking private hospital vaccine purchase despite Prayut promise April 28, 2021. Thai Enquirer

Despite promises made by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, government hurdles and red-tape have made it impossible for private hospitals to acquire vaccines on their own despite having the agency and connections to make it happen.

Thailand is currently fighting its most severe wave of the Covid-19 pandemic with infection rates climbing into the quadruple digits and the death toll mounting.

Among the major criticisms aimed at the government from political opponents and erstwhile allies is the current national vaccination plan which has lagged behind other countries. (Read more here)

Local media have been reporting since last year that private hospitals seeking to independently acquire vaccines were being rejected by the public health ministry on the grounds that the government would be able to source enough vaccines for the country.

But with the rise of the third wave, that vaccination plan seems to have failed in its entirety with the population not inoculated in any substantial way.

As a result, Prayut promised in a nationally-televised address to set up a committee to help the private sector bring in vaccines to supplement the government's effort.

Thai Enquirer has learned, however, that in the two-weeks since Prime Minister Prayut made the statement there has been no change on the ground and private hospitals are still frustrated by the lack of government communication and agency on the matter.

"At the moment, it is impossible for the private sector to bring in vaccines due to the government's inaction," said Dr Suwadee Puntpanich, a director at the Thonburi Hospital Group.

Suwadee explains that due to the global pandemic, all vaccine orders must be countersigned by the government due to regulations put in place by the World Health Organization.

"We have sent numerous applications for vaccines to the Ministry of Public Health, to the minister, to the permanent secretary and have received no response," she told Thai Enquirer.

Suwadee said the only government agency that have responded to their request was the Food and Drug Administration who wrote back saying that it was not their job to approve vaccine requests.

Another hospital administrator at the Bangkok Dust Medical Centre said that Suwadee's experience was shared by all other private hospital groups.

"It is incredibly frustrating," the administrator said on the condition of anonymity. "We stand ready to help the government and the public but they don't seem to want our help. At the very least they can communicate with us."

According to the source at BDMS, the Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul has come out to say previously that the private sector didn't need to source their own vaccines, just to help bring in patients to get vaccinated once the government brought in the necessary doses.

"What a ridiculous statement, now with the third wave the government will need all the help it can get but even now they're not letting us move forward," the source said.

According to Suwadee, every private hospital group has connection to drugs manufacturers as it was part and parcel of their business.

"We know the market and have the contacts to make the vaccine imports happen but they can't sell to us without a government go-ahead," she said. "The prime minister has said that he wants private sector help but so far there has been zero communication from the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration or the health ministry."

"There is no timeline for when we can bring in vaccines because we simply don't know when the government will reply to our requests," she said.

Listen to this story



The Thai Ministry of Education this afternoon, April 27th, announced the postponement of the school semester 01/2021 from May 17th to June 1st, applying to more than 10,000 schools nationwide, due to the current outbreak of Covid-19 Coronavirus in Thailand. Pattaya News

Bangkok –

The Thai Ministry of Education this afternoon, April 27th, announced the postponement of the school semester 01/2021 from May 17th to June 1st, applying to more than 10,000 schools nationwide, due to the current outbreak of Covid-19 Coronavirus in Thailand.

The rescheduling has been decided as the overall situation of the Covid-19 could become more intense which might affect the teaching and learning activities in many educational institutions. The parents of school students also expressed their concern for their children if the semester would start next month, Education Minister Trinuch Thienthong said.

PHOTO: Thairath

Prior to the school reopening, the Ministry of Education advised schools nationwide to prepare classrooms and buildings, including teaching material and other management, from May 17th to the 30th. Teachers and school personnel should communicate and create mutual understanding with parents regarding the postponement. Teachers may visit students at home and organize additional activities, such as online learning before the official school semester starts in June.

Minister Trinuch stated: "The Ministry will closely monitor the Covid-19 situation and the CCSA announcements, ensuring that the postponement and other implementation in the future would have minimum effect on students."

"Schools in the areas that have not been crucially affected by the pandemic situation can proceed and prepare the offline teaching and learning on May 17th."

TPN Media notes that some private/international schools may not apply to this order and parents should double-check with their school of choice. 

Federation of Thai Industries urges government to issue lockdown measures in red-zoned areas, provide public remedies to recover economic growth . Pattaya News



Bangkok –

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has urged the government to issue strict lockdown measures in the high-risk and red-zoned areas of Covid-19 infections in Thailand, and provide public remedial measures and financial assistance to recover economic growth.

FTI president Suphan Mongkolsuthee revealed today, April 27th, that the FTI, as a representative of the private sector, has proposed to the government some recommendations regarding the country's Covid-19 situation to proceed nationwide as follows:

1. The government should quickly control the situation of the new Covid-19 outbreak by implementing lockdown measures in red-zone provinces and high-risk areas. (TPN notes they did not specifically state what they meant by "lockdown" and what measures this would take)
2. The government should accelerate the allocation of Covid-19 vaccines in order to control the pandemic as well as to build confidence among the public about the safety of vaccines and the injection.
3. The government should allow and encourage the private sectors to purchase and import Covid-19 vaccines that have been approved by the FDA in order to speed up vaccine distribution across the country. This should be allowed immediately.
4. The government sector should provide financial stimulus and remedies for those who have been critically affected by the Covid-19 pandemic to continuously help restore the domestic economy. This includes informal workers and anyone who would be affected by a lockdown or closure of their business. This also includes giving support to businesses that would be closed such as freezes on rent and utility payments.
5. The government should take action against the problem of the accessibility of loans for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
6. The government should find a solution to the problem of container shortage to help exporters and their business that could potentially stimulate Thailand's economy

PHOTO: Thansettakij

Despite the financial crisis, the president stated that the industry confidence index, in contradiction, is gradually increasing in the past two months and is forecast to increase in the next three months.

"The FTI forecasted that the industry confidence index for the next three months would increase to 94.0, from 92.0 in February 2021, as business operators were convinced that the Covid-19 vaccination has been in progress in many countries as well as their economic stimulus campaigns. This will help the global trade economy continue to recover as well as easing measures to welcome foreign tourists in the future," Suphan concluded.



Check in desks at Suvarnabhumi Airport are being used as vaccination screening points as part of the effort to inoculate people in Bangkok. A total of 42 check in desks on the 4th floor of the departure hall are currently being used as service points for people due to receive the vaccination. Thai Visa



Picture: Daily News

 

Check in desks  at Suvarnabhumi Airport are being used as vaccination screening points as part of the effort to inoculate people in Bangkok.

 

A total of 42 check in desks on the 4th floor  of the departure hall are currently being used as service points for people due to receive the vaccination.

 

These include front line workers and employees of Airports of Thailand and other staff who work at Suvarnabhumi.

 

The check in desks are being operated by staff  from  Bangplee Hospital and Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital, as well  as from other agencies, Daily News reported. 

 

At the check in desks, people due to receive the vaccine have their temperature and blood pressure taken before their information is formally entered into the registration system. The person is then given an appointment card to receive their vaccination.

 

Kittipong Kittikajorn who helps to oversee operations at the airport said this will help to accelerate rollout of the vaccine, which is important to help build confidence among passengers. 

 



Thailand starts stricter shutdown, but so-called ‘experts’ want MORE. April 27, 2021. Bangkok Jack

Thailand's government slapped restrictions on travel from India on Monday over concerns of imported coronavirus cases and closed more venues in Bangkok, even as it came under fire for not doing enough to contain a spike in infections.

The government has ordered parks, gyms, cinemas and day-care centres in its capital, the epicentre of the latest wave of infections, to shut from April 26 until May 9.

It has also introduced a fine of up to 20,000 baht ($635) for not wearing masks in public, with even the prime minister falling foul of mask-wearing rules. read more

But unlike last year, malls and restaurants have been allowed to operate with earlier closing times, fuelling concerns this could quickly lead to more infection clusters and prompting calls for the resignation of the country's health minister.

Comparing the government's COVID-19 response to playing a game of Whac-A-Mole, Thira Woratanarat, a professor at Chulalongkorn University's Preventive and Social Medicine, warned "shutting places and activities one at a time would not be enough".

People should prepare for more clusters especially in work places, food courts and pubic transportation, he cautioned in a post on Facebook.

Thailand has managed to keep its caseload lower than many countries, but the latest outbreak has resulted in 57,508 infections and 148 deaths in just under 30 days. It reported 2,048 new cases on Monday, of which 901 were in Bangkok.

"They shouldn't wait until there is a new outbreak to come up with regulations," said Ungkana Kesornphud, who owns a massage shop in Bangkok.

The president of Thailand's Thoracic Society, Nithiphat Chiarakun, also urged the government to take "decisive measures to stop the movement of people as quickly as possible".

An online petition on Change.org calling for the resignation of health minister Anutin Charnvirankul had garnered over 160,000 signatures in two days.

Anutin has said he will not resign.

The city of Bangkok fined Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha 6,000 baht ($190) after he posted a photo of him not wearing a mask during a meeting. read more