The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 127 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, May 21st, which is a major jump in cases from having 65 yesterday. Pattaya News

Chonburi Covid-19 cases steeply rise to 127 after new clusters found at factory and migrant worker camp

Friday, 21 May 2021, 6:53

Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 127 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, May 21st, which is a major jump in cases from having 65 yesterday. Chonburi has significantly stepped up testing at industrial estates and workplaces in the province, which is a major reason cases rose due to findings in related workplaces.

This makes a total of 4,001 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 965 still in medical care, with a total of sixteen recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 3,020 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 117 people were released yesterday.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi with 40, Si Racha 14, Banglamung (including Pattaya) 9, Phanat Nikhom 2, Sattahip 3, Ban Bueng 5, Pan Thong 52, Ko Chan 1, and one patient was transferred from another province to Chonburi for medical care.

The details on today's cases given were:

1. A cluster from a single factory with 86 cases
2. A migrant worker camp cluster with 9 cases
3. 1 close contact from a confirmed case from Bangkok
4. Close contacts of previous patients
   • In families, 15 cases
   • In workplaces, 9 cases
5. Close contact under investigation 7 cases.

In the last day, a total of 224 close contacts were tested from contact tracing, and 1,964 people were tested in proactive testing when medical staff goes out into the community.

All are pending results. Chonburi has also begun proactive mass testing at industrial estates and for workers with social security at "high-risk" locations that have interactions with the general public (like supermarkets, public transportation, restaurant staff, etc) and tested 3,088 cases in this category.

The vast majority of cases are driven from two clusters, one at a factory in Mueang Chonburi where most workers are migrant workers living at a densely populated camp in Phan Thong. The second cluster is also a migrant worker camp. Mass testing at migrant camps and factories is set to continue over the next several days where conditions often have many people living and working closely together.

Chonburi Public Health officials are asking for the public to remain working from home if possible and especially to avoid small social gatherings with people who are not members of your own household until the situation improves. This is especially true of "drinking circles" involving alcohol or sharing food, such as a Thai-style BBQ.

The vast majority of cases, according to Public Health Ministry Officials are asymptomatic or mild, with only roughly ten percent having moderate or serious symptoms, generally those with pre-existing health conditions.

Pattaya officially began its mass vaccination campaign yesterday, May 20th, which is set to continue today. The goal is to vaccinate roughly 20,000 people in two days with another 100,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines set to arrive in a few weeks in June, enough for another 50,000 local residents.

Bangkok Post highlights 21/5



WHO commends Thai public health. Dr. Brown commended the work of the Ministry of Public Health and Thai physicians on their emergency response and care for patients, remarking that the WHO views Thailand’s emergency health services as world-class. NNT

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Deputy Minister of Public Health has accompanied a team from the World Health Organization (WHO) in viewing treatment of COVID-19 patients at the Princess Mother National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment, garnering commendation of Thai physicians.

 

Deputy Minister of Public Health Sathit Pitutecha, led Director of the WHO Thailand Emergency Public Health and Drug Resistant Viruses Project Dr. Richard Brown, to view and draw lessons from the Princess Mother National Institute on Drug Abuse Treatment's handling of COVID-19 patients in Lamlukka district of Pathumthani province.

 

Sathit explained that the institute established a cohort ward for the care of COVID-19 patients on April 10, supplying 34 beds for Yellow level patients in need of respiratory assistance. On April 22, it created an Extended Ward to make another 200 beds available and began accepting patients from the 1668, 1669 and 1330 hotlines of the Department of Medicine, receiving a total 229 patients. So far, the facility has treated 472 people with 226 still receiving care. Individuals deemed Red level patients, in critical condition, are forwarded to hospitals such as Rajvithi Hospital and Chulalongkorn Hospital.

 

 

Dr. Brown commended the work of the Ministry of Public Health and Thai physicians on their emergency response and care for patients, remarking that the WHO views Thailand's emergency health services as world-class.

 

 

The first day of the local Covid -19 mass vaccination campaign has begun today (May 20th) in Pattaya and Banglamung to start to get the majority of the area vaccinated in advance of being able to bring back vaccinated foreign tourists later this year. The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunplume told The Pattaya News, “Pattaya and Banglamung have received 20,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines. The plan is to vaccinate first responders, medical officers, and people who are working in ‘high-risk’ occupations with this batch of vaccines.” Pattaya News

Covid -19 mass vaccination campaign begins in Pattaya and Banglamung

Thursday, 20 May 2021, 15:33

Pattaya –

The first day of the local Covid -19 mass vaccination campaign has begun today (May 20^th) in Pattaya and Banglamung to start to get the majority of the area vaccinated in advance of being able to bring back vaccinated foreign tourists later this year.

The Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunplume told The Pattaya News, "Pattaya and Banglamung have received 20,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines. The plan is to vaccinate first responders, medical officers, and people who are working in 'high-risk' occupations with this batch of vaccines."

High-risk occupations, notes The Pattaya News, are primarily those in the tourist industry or hospitality who are customer-facing. Limited vaccinations have already been taking place for weeks in Chonburi and Banglamung, but were focused on medical staff, the elderly and vulnerable, and essential government staff. Many of Banglamung's officials and health workers are already fully vaccinated.

"10,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines are being injected in two days at five places which are at the Eastern Indoor Athletics Stadium, Pattaya City Hospital, Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, Pattaya Memorial Hospital, and Pong Municipality." The Mayor continued.

"Of those 10,000 doses, 4,000 doses are being vaccinated to residents at the Eastern Indoor Athletics Stadium in Soi Chaiyapruek 2. Ten percent of the vaccine was available for 'walk-in' which was quickly full. " Mayor Khunplume added.

The Pattaya News noted that walk-in was suspended by Prime Minister Prayut earlier this week, however, instead "on-the-spot" registration is available. It is not immediately clear how this differs, although the on-site registration, according to officials, allows the opportunity for better social distancing versus just walking with no guidelines for a Covid-19 shot. Bangkok, which has the majority of infections and Covid-19 outbreaks currently, is not allowing any walk-ins at all, however, some provinces may end up allowing the process if they are deemed to have supplies and sufficient social distancing.

The Banglamung District Chief Mr. Wuttisak Singhadaechoe told The Pattaya News, "Banglamung will receive 100,000 doses more of the AstraZeneca vaccine in June. This shipment will allow us to get a significant majority of the local population inoculated."

The exact population of Pattaya is a question mark. Prior to Covid-19, the official population was 119,530. However, this did not include many foreign residents or migrant workers as well as tens of thousands of mostly informal hospitality workers. Due to Covid-19, the population of Pattaya is believed to have fallen by as much as half, although exact estimates are nearly impossible to tabulate. The 100,000 additional doses, which will require two shots for inoculation, will serve 50,000 Pattaya residents and go a long way however for Banglamung.

It was reported by officials that there was some slight disorganization when people who had arrived before their appointment time did not understand the process. However, the problem was quickly solved and overall the process and procedures went well, according to both the Mayor and the District Chief.

Mayor Sonthaya also visited a second vaccination location. He told The Pattaya News, "1,000 doses per day are being vaccinated here in two days. No problems were found here during the vacination. Most of the people that have already been vaccinated have no side effects and said they feel great. "

As seen in the photo, some foreign residents were seen able to successfully get a vaccine. Nearly all had done so through employment and work permits at companies deemed "high-risk" who managed to get their foreign workers onto the list. The majority of foreign ex-pats, who may be on retirement or other visas, will be able to apply "in the near future" stated the Mayor. This is likely to be as early as June with the arrival of 100,000 AstraZeneca doses for the local area. Huay Yai foreign residents had also been previously allowed to register at their municipality, although this was a municipal decision and not applied to the entire district of Banglamung or Chonburi.

In total 20,000 people in Banglamung including Pattaya will be vaccinated in the next two days. 



Thai Public Health Minister provides Covid-19 vaccine updates today, AstraZeneca remains main vaccine for Thailand.

 Thai Public Health Minister provides Covid-19 vaccine updates today, AstraZeneca remains main vaccine for Thailand

Thursday, 20 May 2021, 13:18

PHOTO: hfocus

Bangkok –

Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul today, May 20th, reported the progress of Covid-19 vaccine imports in Thailand, stressing that AstraZeneca will be the main vaccine to be given out for people across the country while Sinovac is for emergency distribution only.

The Minister further stated that a vaccination trading agreement is officially made when both manufacturers and the Thai government mutually agree on the risks and conditions before negotiating the pricing and distribution of vaccines in Thailand.

PHOTO: Johnson & Johnson

Recently, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been already registered with the FDA and agreed to sell to the government only. The Department of Disease Control is currently negotiating the procurement process with the manufacturer. If the discussion went well and both parties agreed to each other's conditions, the Johnson & Johnson vaccination could presumably be delivered in the fourth quarter of this year.

The Moderna vaccine has also been registered in Thailand and confirmed to negotiate trading with the government sector. The main Moderna vaccine distribution is set to be in the private sector. The private sector who wants to purchase the vaccine must negotiate with Moderna representatives before informing the amount of vaccine needs to the Thai government. The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) will act as a coordinator throughout the procedure. The Moderna vaccine is likely to arrive in Thailand in the fourth quarter as well.

PHOTO: AstraZeneca

For AstraZeneca, the main vaccine in Thailand, that has a domestic production, the manufacturer has confirmed that the first lot will be delivered to Thailand by June 2021. If the local production has a problem, AstraZeneca must provide the same amount of vaccines to Thailand according to the contract agreement. Regarding the Sinovac vaccine, it continuously arrived in the country to resolve the current outbreak since the beginning of 2021. AstraZeneca has continually stated that there have not been delays in local production and they are "fully on track" to the June timetable.

Regarding the Pfizer vaccine, the government and manufacturers are reaching a stage where both parties understand the terms and conditions. The first lot can be delivered in the second half of the year if the government agrees to proceed with the trading. Pfizer will be administered to children 12 years of age and over.

Finally, Russian's Sputnik V vaccine has just begun with the negotiation and the company is currently preparing documents for FDA registration.

Covid UPDATE: 2,636 new cases, provincial totals By Tanutam ThawanThursday, May 20, 2021 . The Thaiger

Covid UPDATE: 2,636 new cases, provincial totals

By 

Tanutam Thawan

Thursday, May 20, 2021

2,636 new Covid-19 cases, including 671 in prisons, were reported today in the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's daily briefing. Another 25 coronavirus-related deaths were logged today, raising the pandemic's death toll in Thailand to 703. Since the start of the pandemic last year, the CCSA has reported a total of 119,585 Covid-19 infections.

Thailand now has 49,210 active Covid-19 cases. Bangkok remains the epicentre of infections in the latest outbreak. Another 1,001 coronavirus infections were reported in the capital today. Health officials are rolling out active case finding in numerous high risk areas and cluster areas.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration also plans to vaccinate 70% of residents in the capital within the next 2 months. The CCSA will announce more information on the national vaccination plan, including information for foreign residents, tomorrow during the daily press briefing. 



The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 65 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, which is a jump in cases from having 39 yesterday. Pattaya News

Chonburi –

The Chonburi Department of Public Health announced 65 new and confirmed cases of Covid-19 today, which is a jump in cases from having 39 yesterday. (May 20th). Chonburi has significantly stepped up testing at industrial estates and workplaces, doubling the number of daily tests in the province, which is a major reason cases rose due to findings in Mueang Chonburi related workplaces.

This makes a total of 3,874 cases of Covid-19 in the current round of infections, with 955 still in medical care, with a total of sixteen recorded deaths in Chonburi since the start of this recent round of infections in early April.

Additionally, 2,903 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began. 102 people were released yesterday.

The district-level new cases were as follows today:

Mueang Chonburi with 26, Si Racha 12, Banglamung (including Pattaya) 13, Sattahip 5, Ban Bueng 5, Pan Thong 2, and two patients were transferred from another province to Chonburi for medical care.

The details on today's cases given were:

1. Close contacts of previous patients
   • In families, 15 cases
   • In workplaces, 21 cases
2. Close contact under investigation 11 cases
3. Under investigation in general, 18 cases

In the last day, a total of 147 close contacts were tested from contact tracing, and 2,173 people were tested in proactive testing when medical staff goes out into the community.

All are pending results. Additionally, another 770 people were tested from Royal mobile testing vans and are also waiting for results as officials step up aggressive community testing. Chonburi has also begun proactive mass testing at industrial estates and for workers with social security at "high-risk" locations that have interactions with the general public (like supermarkets, public transportation, restaurant staff, etc) and tested 1,178 cases in this category.

Chonburi Public Health officials are asking for the public to remain working from home if possible and especially to avoid small social gatherings with people who are not members of your own household until the situation improves. This is especially true of "drinking circles" involving alcohol or sharing food, such as a Thai-style BBQ.

The vast majority of cases, according to Public Health Ministry Officials are asymptomatic or mild, with only roughly ten percent having moderate or serious symptoms, generally those with pre-existing health conditions.

There are nearly 8,000 beds available across Thailand to accommodate Covid-19 patients as the number of infections continues spiking in the country. The Nation



Thailand’s dilemma: how to shore up economy as infections surge. The economy shrank 2.6 percent year on year in the first quarter, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC)’s quarterly report released on May 17. Thailand has now suffered economic contraction for five consecutive quarters since the virus outbreak in early 2020. PBS World



Thailand's economic outlook is bleak, with the daily COVID-19 caseload hitting four figures following mid-April's Songkran holiday.

The economy shrank 2.6 percent year on year in the first quarter, according to the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC)'s quarterly report released on May 17. Thailand has now suffered economic contraction for five consecutive quarters since the virus outbreak in early 2020.

Publication of the NESDC report coincided with lockdown easing in high-risk zones including Bangkok, as the government sought to kickstart economic activity. Customers are now allowed to dine at restaurants until 9pm, one diner per table.

Critics are questioning why the government is easing restrictions at a time when the daily caseload is high and rising while the vaccine rollout is slow.

"The government is attempting to shore up the economy and so has allowed restaurants to reopen," said Charl Kengchon, executive chairman of Kasikorn Research Centre.

Bleak second quarter

The economy is expected to contract further in the second quarter given that this third wave of infections only emerged in early April.

In March, consumers showed more confidence in the economy, resuming their shopping habits after the second wave that emerged in December appeared to have been contained.

However, that optimistic mood reversed in April and May as consumers were urged to stay at home in a move to combat the resurgent contagion.

"Economic impacts are expected to be much more serious in the second quarter than in the first," warned Charl.

This is a key reason why the government has eased lockdown restrictions, as this allows businesses to reopen and achieve at least some cashflow.

Another important reason is that the government is running out of money to finance its extended COVID-relief packages.

"If the government imposes strict lockdown restrictions, it needs to allocate more money to support workers and business owners impacted by the tough lockdown," said Charl.

"The government is trying to make the best use of available financial resources, and it does not want to add more borrowing to the Bt1 trillion it borrowed last year following the first wave," he added.

Critics are also questioning whether the government has allocated enough budget for public health and to assist those who have lost businesses or their job.

China's poverty solution hailed as model for Thailand

Leaders of the ruling Palang Pracharath Party recently met with their Chinese Communist Party (CCP) counterparts to learn from China about how to reduce the poverty rate. Since the Thai military coup of 2014, the Thai junta and current Palang Pracharath-led government appear to have leaned closer to China by forging submarine, high-speed rail, and vaccine deals with Beijing.

Are funds running low?

The government has tried to assure the public that it has adequate relief funds in the draft budget for the fiscal year 2022, which will be debated in Parliament at the end of this month.

The NESDC on May 18 issued a breakdown of spending to deal with the third wave of infections. It said the government still had Bt166.5 billion left to spend from the Bt1-trillion loan.

Meanwhile, Bt98.2 billion is left over from the central fund for the 2021 fiscal year for emergency spending.

The amount still available from COVID-relief funds is Bt37.1 billion.

In its 2022 budget, the government also set aside an emergency fund worth Bt89 billion to spend on virus-related issues. Spending under the 2022 budget will start in October this year if Parliament approves the draft bill.

Vaccination plan

Economic recovery largely depends on how fast the government can roll out vaccines, say economists.

The government aims to fully vaccinate (two doses) 50 million people by the end of this year, hoping to create herd immunity in Thailand's population of 69 million.

However, the current vaccination rate is far less than 100,000 doses per day. "To meet its target, the government needs to speed up the jabs," Charl pointed out.

The government is facing two challenges in its jab drive: reluctance to be vaccinated due to worry over side effects, and inadequate vaccine supplies.

Meanwhile, to ease the financial burden on individuals, the Bank of Thailand recently launched the third phase of its loan-relief package. The May 17-December 31 phase covers credit card and personal loans, car and motorcycle collateral loans, auto and motorcycle hire-purchase loans, and mortgages. Lenders and borrowers are encouraged to restructure their debt agreements by, among other things, extending the repayment period.

By Thai PBS World's Business Desk 

🔴 BREAKING: Thai health ministry reporting 25 deaths and 2,636 cases (*) on Thursday. Full update at 12:30pm. 16 May: 2,302 - 24 dead 17 May: 9,635 - 25 dead 18 May: 2,473 - 35 dead 19 May: 3,394 - 29 dead 20 May: 2,636 - 25 dead <— TODAY * 671 from prisons. Richard Barrow



Bangkok Post highlights 21/5



The Department of Corrections is considering granting more prisoners parole or offering them a reduction in their sentences to ease overcrowding and the rising number of new Covid-19 infections in its prisons. Bangkok Post

'Parole or reduced sentences'

The Department of Corrections is considering granting more prisoners parole or offering them a reduction in their sentences to ease overcrowding and the rising number of new Covid-19 infections in its prisons.

Certain rules will have to be amended to allow this special parole and sentence reduction programme, which is intended mainly for old prisoners and those with a life-threatening disease, said Aryut Sinthopphan, director-general of the department, on Wednesday.

Mr Aryut said criminal suspects being detained in prison while fighting their cases will also be supported for getting bail.

The department on Wednesday recorded 1,117 new cases of Covid-19, detected in 11 prisons and detention facilities across the country, he said, adding that a total of 12,767 inmates confirmed to have Covid-19 are receiving treatment.

There are currently only two prisons where Covid-19 has yet to be found: Narathiwat provincial prison and Mae Sot district prison in Tak, he said.

"All prisons and detention facilities are being instructed to prepare solutions to deal with possible outbreaks of Covid-19 by setting up their own field hospitals and centres for Covid-19 situation administration," he said.

"They are also instructed to focus on screening all inmates for Covid-19 and getting everyone who is confirmed to have the virus to undergo a lung X-ray to determine if he or she needs antiviral treatment."

He added that all prison officers are also subject to Covid-19 tests and anyone who has a runny nose will instantly need a swab test too.

Moreover, all prisons and detention facilities are required to inform the families of all Covid-19 infected detainees by phone to keep them updated about their relative's health.

"The department is strictly implementing the so-called 'Bubble and Seal' measure to prevent transmissions of Covid-19 into and from all prisons," he said.

"Any prison officers who are found to be carriers of the disease and have infected others in prison will face a disciplinary probe and action.

Meanwhile, Rachada Dhnadirek, deputy government spokeswoman, said the government is preparing hospitals for handling infected prisoners.

Ms Rachada said if prisons do not have sufficient space to set up their own field hospitals on the premises, other places such as temporary detention facilities and old prisons nearby may be converted into field hospitals to treat infected prisoners.

She said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had assured that all people infected, including prisoners, will be treated equally.

Suwat Thep-arak, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, expressed concern over the need to better protect the rights, health and lives of prisoners in the face of the fierce Covid-19 outbreak in many prisons. He called on the government to give prisoners priority in its mass vaccination drive as it seeks to protect the population. 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is aiming to administer one shot of a coronavirus vaccine to 70% of its population by September, its health minister said on Wednesday, as it seeks to provide protection for more people faster amid its deadliest outbreak so far.



FILE PHOTO: A woman receives the Sinovac coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at the Samut Sakhon hospital in Samut Sakhon province, Thailand, February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is aiming to administer one shot of a coronavirus vaccine to 70% of its population by September, its health minister said on Wednesday, as it seeks to provide protection for more people faster amid its deadliest outbreak so far.

 

Thailand has yet to start a mass immunisation programme and has been scrambling to secure vaccines from multiple brands after a new, more potent COVID-19 outbreak that has seen cases nearly quadruple and fatalities increase six-fold since early April.

 

"We will focus on the first shots of vaccination to meet the target of 70% of the population by September," Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said in a statement.

 

He reassured the public there would be no need to reserve a second shot as there would be doses available.

 

The government had previously aimed to vaccinate the 70% needed to reach herd immunity by the end of the year but has been criticised for being slow to procure vaccines and for a strategy that had relied overwhelmingly on one manufacturer, AstraZeneca.

 

Thailand is scheduled to start its main drive next month, when locally manufactured AstraZeneca doses are available.

 

Just over 1.5 million of Thailand's more than 66 million people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, mostly that of Sinovac Biotech. Those include medical workers or people with pre-existing health conditions.

 

Thailand has also placed orders for the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech. Authorities have so far approved the vaccines of Sinovac, AstraZenaca, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna.

 

(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alex Richardson)

 



Thai Airways creditors approve restructuring plan. Bangkok Post

Thai Airways creditors approve restructuring plan

Thai Airways aircraft are parked on the tarmac at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport March 27, 2015. (Reuters file photo)

Thai Airways International's creditors have voted to approve the airline's restructuring plan, its legal advisor said on Wednesday.

"Ninety percent of creditors voted to approve the plan," Kitipong Urapeepatanapong told Reuters, adding a court will need to review the plan on May 28.

Last year, a court approved the troubled airline's request for bankruptcy protection and debt restructuring. 

“ Topplistan ” idag 19/5



The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is currently being administered to the elderly in Thailand, and no adverse reactions were reported in most recipients. A large batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be available for young adults. According to studies, they may experience fever, body aches or swelling and redness around the injection. These effects will disappear in 24 hours. Pattaya Mail

Thailand elderly show no adverse effects after Covid-19 vaccinations

Pattaya MailMay 19, 2021

Prof. Dr. Yong said that working-age adults are more likely to experience fever or body aches than the elderly, after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine while not many senior people have complained about having fever after receiving the dose. (File Photo)

The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is currently being administered to the elderly in Thailand, and no adverse reactions were reported in most recipients. A large batch of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be available for young adults. According to studies, they may experience fever, body aches or swelling and redness around the injection. These effects will disappear in 24 hours.



Head of the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Prof. Dr. Yong Poovorawan, provided information about administering the AstraZeneca vaccine to young adults, who are more susceptible to adverse reactions than the elderly.

Prof. Dr. Yong said that everyone must understand that working-age adults are more likely to experience fever or body aches than the elderly, after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Not many senior people have complained about having fever after receiving the dose. With more doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to arrive soon, recipients who are under 30 years old may have to take paracetamol, a medication used to treat fever and moderate pain, once they return home.

According to the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, some young recipients may experience adverse events, such as swelling and redness around the injection side.



Common side effects, including fever, are temporary, and will disappear in 24 hours. In rare cases, these effects may last two to three days.

Studies show that young adults, who have strong reactions after receiving the vaccine, will trigger strong immune responses.

It is normal that women have higher immune responses than men and young people have higher immune responses than the elderly.

If everyone understands the issue, they will not panic if they have side effects. People who have severe side effects are advised seek medical attention. (NNT) 

Foreigners worry over vaccinations as Thai PM halts walk-in registrations By Ann Carter Wednesday, May 19, 2021. The Thaiger

Foreigners worry over vaccinations as Thai PM halts walk-in registrations

By 

Ann Carter

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is putting a halt on walk-in services for vaccines, causing worry among foreigners as to when they will be able to receive a Covid-19 jab. The news has confused those who were following the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration's announcements that stated foreign residents will be able to take part in the government's mass vaccination programme. But as no details have been released on what foreigners would be considered as residents, nor how they would sign up, expats are questioning the murky plans.

The CCSA's English-language spokesman, who is also the deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mentioned before that foreigners may be able to join a proposed "walk-in" vaccination scheme, but now, the PM has shot that down until further notice. His reasoning pointed towards large numbers of people flooding the walk-in registration, opening up to chaos and the further spreading of the virus. He did say that some provinces and areas may be able to conduct walk-in jabs, but not in Bangkok, as infections are soaring. Despite mentioning the possibility of other areas carrying out walk-in vaccinations, the PM says the CCSA will have to approve of it at a later date.

The CCSA said some foreigners have managed to sign up for jabs on the Thai language vaccine mobile app, Mor Prom, but those foreigners had social security cards or pink cards. And, the CCSA says the app is only for Thai nationals.Although there has been a recent announcement of the CCSA developing a website for foreigners to sign up for the Covid vaccines, no timeline or date has been given as to when the website will be available.

With no date set for foreigners to sign up through the new website, many foreigners have indicated that they would be willing to register for the jabs at private hospitals. But as private hospitals haven't given an exact date on when they will receive vaccines, foreigners are continually being left in the dark. According to the Bangkok Post, an unidentified source detailed the PM's wishes.

"The prime minister wants everyone involved to stop talking about vaccination walk-ins until clear measures are finalised. People will be upset and complain if they walk in but cannot get shots."

PM Prayut is also warning relative agencies to not release confusing information about the walk-in vaccinations as he says people should only listen to the CCSA for information.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post/The Pattaya News