As many people have seen their vaccination appointments cancelled or postponed, due to insufficient allocation of doses to several parts of the country, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha apologised at a press conference today (Tuesday), saying more vaccines are being procured.
"I would like to apologise if there are people who have not received the service or if there have been changes to your appointments. I am stressing the principles I have outlined, will fix the issue and will compensate those who have been affected as soon as possible," said the prime minister after this week's cabinet meeting.
According to the prime minister:
Every province will receive the vaccines, so that inoculations can begin at the same time. "No province will be left behind," he said.
The vaccine allocation is based on size of the population, age, infection numbers, risk groups, occupations and whether the provinces are tourist destinations or economically significant areas. Each province is responsible for allocating vaccines to its hospitals.
Everyone who has booked their vaccination appointments will be inoculated and as many original appointments as possible will be kept.
Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul denied any postponement of vaccine allocations by the ministry. He added that the ministry has clear guidelines for vaccine distribution and that each hospital needs to manage its vaccination administration in accordance with the doses provided each week.
"There's no postponement by the Public Health Ministry but, if people seek inoculations with private companies, which hire hospitals to do it and then postpone the appointment, this is out of our control, because we're only responsible for administering vaccines to target groups," Mr. Anutin said today.
More than 400,000 people across the country were inoculated yesterday (Monday), the first day of mass inoculations campaign. Over 4.6 million doses have been administered to date.
In Bangkok, 13,052 were vaccinated yesterday, at 25 designated sites outside hospitals in the capital. According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, each site is able to accommodate up to 590 people per day during the first week. From June 15thonwards, however, their capacities are expected to increase, in accordance with vaccine dose allocation from the Public Health Ministry.
Hospitals in Thailand have been instructed to keep vaccination appointments, even though they may have received fewer doses of vaccine than expected, especially for people over 60 and those suffering from any of seven non-communicable underlying diseases, Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pitutacha told Thai PBS during the "Tob Jot" TV programme on Monday night.
He said that, while most hospitals have received sufficient doses for the launch of mass inoculations on Monday, about 20% received fewer doses than the demand since Monday.
He made clear that it was not a mistake by some hospitals, saying that the Public Health Ministry does not want appointments to be postponed, especially for the two groups at high risk, because some of them live far from the hospitals.
The deputy public health minister said that the ministry has been trying to address this disruption and hopes that the situation will improve, as 800,000 more doses of AstraZeneca are expected to be delivered next week, followed by two million more the following week. The company is expected to deliver 6.3 million doses in total this month.
He admitted that there might be a problem if the deliveries of the AstraZeneca vaccine are delayed, but he assured that the government will try its best to solve the problem and ensure that the vaccines are distributed widely and quickly for people across the country.
Mr. Satit maintained that the problem with the distribution of vaccines is not politically motivated, as claimed by some critics, but a matter of prioritization for areas which need them most due to high infections rates.
BANGKOK, June 8 (TNA) – The government expressed concern about the progressive increase of COVID-19 clusters in Bangkok.
Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman for the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration, quoted the Department of Health of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) as reporting that there were 74 COVID-19 clusters in 35 districts in the capital.
According to the spokesman, a cluster at Samor Thong Garment Co in Bang Khae district had 20 cases, two construction workers' camps in Yannawa district had altogether 69 cases and another construction workers' camp in Huai Khwang district had 349 cases.
The Thai Cabinet met this afternoon and among other issues, like the hiring of special government employees and financial aid measures for small businesses affected by Covid-19, the Cabinet briefly discussed the Phuket Sandbox program.
The Phuket Sandbox is a program that is proposed to allow vaccinated foreign tourists to enter without quarantine from July first and had already been approved in principle by the Center for Economic Situation Administration, or CESA.
According to Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan O'Cha, who posted on his social media accounts around 7:00 P.M., the Thai Cabinet will inform relevant agencies, like the Tourism Ministry and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to make "improvements" that guarantee a good balance of economic recovery and safety. The program is not canceled or officially postponed at this point, only that the Cabinet will return to the matter in the very near future and is not officially "rubber-stamped" yet to go to the Royal Gazette.
The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, is planning to discuss suggested improvements later this week, noted the Secretary-General of the Thai National Security Council General Natthaphon Narkphanit who has a prominent role with the CCSA. According to the Secretary-General, one of the biggest concerns was tourists potentially entering areas of Phuket that were not tourism-related or potentially exposing people not involved in the tourism industry to the virus.
It was previously reported by those present at the CESA meeting over the past weekend that another big change, moving the required days on the island from seven to fourteen before tourists could leave to other parts of Thailand, had also been moving forward but like the overall plan was not yet finalized.
Additionally, 4,169 people in total have now been released from medical care and fully recovered since this current wave began.110 people were released yesterday.
The district-level new cases were as follows today:
Mueang Chonburi with 26, Si Racha 31, Banglamung (including Pattaya) 3, Pan Thong 4, and five patients were transferred from another province to Chonburi for medical care.
306,580 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered on first day of mass vaccination
June 7, 2021
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306,580 people across Thailand were inoculated against COVID-19 today (Monday) as the country kicked off the mass vaccination operation, to contain the spread of the pandemic, which has infected a total of 151,023 people during the third wave, which started on April 1st this year.
While the prime minister had said, earlier today, that a contract had been signed for the purchase of 25 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that the Ministry of Public Health is "expected to sign term sheets" for the procurement of 20 million doses of Pfizer and just five million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines later this week.
The minister also said he had not been informed about some hospitals having to postpone vaccination appointments today adding, however, that they must provide an explanation if there are such delays.
Today marks the first day that locally-produced AstraZeneca vaccines were injected into people over 60 and those who suffer any of from seven non-communicable underlying diseases. Today's vaccination tally has brought the total of doses administered to date to more than 4.5 million.
Pre-registered vaccine recipients' appointments cancelled before inoculations began today
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A number of pre-registered vaccine recipients received phone calls late this morning (Monday), notifying them of the cancellation of their vaccination appointments, with no new appointment being made.
All those called had registered days in advance, and the lists of recipients on given days were sent to inoculation sites around Bangkok prior to the first day of the mass vaccination of its residents.
The number of doses provided was reportedly fewer than expected. One of the vaccination sites, which had planned to inoculate 800-1,000 people on its first day, will only be able to vaccinate 500.
This morning, prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the reporters, during his visit to the inoculation site at Bang Sue central station, that there will be enough vaccines for everyone in Thailand, but that the timeframe has not been specified, while admitting that, for the time being, the demand for inoculations exceeds the doses available.
Thailand kicked off its inoculation campaign on February 28th, with the Public Health Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, being the first person in the country to be vaccinated with SinoVac's CoronaVac. Several days later, the prime minister became the first Thai to be inoculated with the AstraZeneca version.
Over the past 3 months, Thailand has inoculated less than 10% of its population, while news about the vaccine supply shortages and delays keep emerging.
Notably, the page on the department of disease control's website, which usually shows the number of people inoculated in Thailand, has been taken down.
Last week, the first lots of the Thai-made AstraZeneca vaccine were delivered to the Public Health Ministry. The supplies are supposed to meet the amount of vaccine Thailand requires to cover 70% of the population.
Thailand's headline consumer price index (CPI) in May was up 2.44 per cent year-on-year to 99.55 points, led by prices in energy and fresh food categories, the Ministry of Commerce said Friday.
"The headline CPI rose for a second month in a row but slower than the previous month," said Wichanun Niwatjinda, a deputy director at the Trade Policy and Strategy Office. The CPI in April recorded an eight-year-high by rising 3.41 per cent from last year.
The main factors were energy prices, which jumped by 24.8 percent year-on-year, coupled with increasing prices for pork, seafood, and fruit, Wichanun said.
Excluding energy and food categories, the core CPI index rose 0.23 per cent year-on-year.
Of the 430 product and service items used to calculate inflation, the prices of 121 items rose in May. A total of 112 items saw a decline, while the prices of the remaining 197 items were unchanged.
The trade office predicts an average CPI in the second quarter to rise by 2.3 per cent from last year, before slowly declining in the second half of the year.
"The Thai inflation trend continues to move in line with global inflation," Wichanun noted. – Thai Enquirer
Beach chairs are placed on an empty beach in Phuket as the island province gears up for its July 1 reopening to tourists. (Photo by Achadthaya Chuenniran)
Businesses have responded cautiously to the plan to reopen Phuket to vaccinated foreign tourists next month, as operators aren't confident they will be able to draw tourists back to the resort island due to the tough requirements it imposes on incoming tourists.
Starting from July 1, Phuket will waive quarantine requirements for foreign tourists who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 under the "Phuket Tourism Sandbox" model, which is being touted as a model for the reopening of Thailand's tourism industry.
However, as a precaution, tourists will have to remain on the island for 14 days before they are allowed to move on to other destinations in the country -- up from the previously announced seven days.
Wichai Ruangcharuwattana, manager of the Sunshine Tour Phuket Co, told the Bangkok Post that overall the reopening plan will help the resort island's economic recovery.
However, he wanted the 14-day stay requirement taken back to seven, as hotels and ferry operators who take tourists on day trips have pinned their hopes on the reopening.
As his company focuses on tourists from Asian countries, most of whom generally don't plan to stay for more than five days in Phuket, Mr Wichai said he hasn't seen any new bookings.
"Some golfers from Singapore had expressed interest in spending three days in Phuket, but that's it," he added.
"Though Phuket will reopen in July, we don't know how many foreign tourists will return. As for Thai tourists, they may be worried that prices of hotel rooms, food and tour packages in Phuket may increase, so not many will visit," Mr Wichai said.
Sirikorn Bunyasiri, vice-president of the Phuket Travel Agents Association, told the Bangkok Post she expected the Phuket Sandbox programme to get off to a good start.
"Flights to Phuket are expected to increase, though it is not known whether tourists will come in large numbers. Many airlines are trying to increase flights after almost two years, and everyone is looking at Phuket. If it is a success, others will follow suit," she said.
Chalermlak Kepsap, owner of the Holiday Inn Express Hotel on Patong beach, voiced disagreement with the 14-day stay requirement, saying the requirement may dissuade foreign tourists from visiting.
"It will be difficult for them to remain on the island for 14 days. This may be too long, considering the number of tourist spots and activities on the island. It will be more helpful if they adopt a seven-day rule because tourists will have a chance to visit other destinations," Ms Chalermlak said.
She said Patong beach, a popular tourist spot in Phuket, is still quiet with no tourists, as many visitors know the monsoon season will peak next month and last until October.
"As hotel operators are not confident the reopening plan will draw foreign tourists back, several have decided to remain closed," she said, adding many small hotels don't have the budget to restart their businesses, some of which have been shuttered for almost two years.
"If the situation in Patong continues, when tourists come back on July 1, where will they stay?" she said.
Ms Chalermlak also pointed out that many vendors in Patong are from other provinces, and after the Covid-19 hit the area, most decided to go home and many have yet to come back.
"We must also take into account other aspects, not only the vaccination of 70% of local residents. For example, we have to consider which countries the foreign tourists are from. Operators in Patong have not seen a clear government stance on the matter," she said.
Despite the reservations, Sonthaya Khongthip, president of a community enterprise, agro-tourism and conservation group in the Bangthao-Choeng Talay community, said the community is ready to support the reopening.
Locals were working to comply with Safety & Health Administration Plus guidelines, as recommended by the Tourism and Sports Ministry to attract tourists, Mr Sonthaya said.
"Without tourist arrivals, Phuket will become a ghost town. Without [the sandbox scheme], the country cannot move forward.
"The 14-day stay requirement will benefit local producers. We want tourists to spend money in communities selling local products," Mr Sonthaya said.
"We are like small fish in a big pond -- larger operators who do their marketing internationally should also think of local tourism enterprises," he added.
Don Limnanthapisit, president of a committee on Phuket old town community, said he agrees with the 14-day requirement, though he warned that the reopening may lead to a new surge of infections if tourists fail to follow health safety protocols.
"Though incoming foreign tourists will be required to show proof of vaccination, this does not mean they are totally free of the virus," he said. "Foreign tourists may not want to wear their masks in public. When they arrive in Phuket, they want to enjoy themselves drinking. If we cannot control them, this may lead to a new wave of infections."
The government has made the right decision in imposing tough conditions for reopening Phuket to foreign visitors from July 1.
The Centre for Economic Situation Administration (CESA), chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, on Friday endorsed what has come to be known as the Phuket Sandbox.
The plan, proposed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Sport and Tourism Ministry, will allow vaccinated foreign tourists to enter Phuket in a bid to revitalise businesses and the economy.
Still, the CESA decided to change the criteria for those visiting the resort island.
Under the original plan, Sport and Tourism Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn proposed that vaccinated visitors should have to wait seven days before being allowed to travel outside the island.
Under the change, the tourists must remain on the island a full 14 days before being allowed to carry on to other destinations.
Some business operators in Phuket had demanded scrapping quarantine and other measures to confine tourists to designated areas.
But in the end, the CESA has erred on the side of caution and approved a plan which retains a 14-day isolation protocol, albeit one that will still afford visitors the freedom to enjoy the island during this time.
Foreign tourists also must have certificates proving they have received one of the vaccines accepted by Thai authorities or endorsed by the World Health Organization at least two weeks in advance of travel.
As an extra precaution, the Public Health Ministry initially will only allow arrivals from a list of low-to-moderate risk countries.
Only hotels that have been awarded certificates will be allowed to host foreign tourists. Visitors will be asked to download a special contact tracing app on their phones for the duration of their stay.
They will also be expected to abide by Covid-19 safety procedures such as mask-wearing, frequent handwashing and temperature taking.
Whilst these criteria might seem excessive and risk stunting Phuket's recovery, the CESA has made the right call.
Only 3.5% of Thais have been vaccinated, compared to between 40 and 60% of citizens in the United States and Europe, so further outbreaks remain a risk.
And while many worry about the risk that tourists pose to Thailand, the converse is that shutting them out for too long could also be a hinderance to the country's re-emergence as a premier global travel destination.
The challenge is to get the balance right -- and the stakes are high. Few holidaymakers would be eager to risk their health by travelling to a location with a reputation as a hotbed for Covid-19 infections.
Reopening to tourists is necessary to boost the economy, but it must be done prudently to avoid a repeat of draconian measures imposed earlier. CESA will see how the Phuket model goes before deciding whether also to reopen Krabi and Koh Samui off Surat Thani to foreign tourists.
The prime minister's caution is to be welcomed at a time when he is under pressure to kick-start the economy again. His decision last week to put the breaks on the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's haphazard decision to let five types of businesses, including massage and tattoo parlours, reopen despite cases continuing to rise, is also the right one.
As the clamour grows for the kingdom to open again, it is essential that the safety of visitors and the public remains the top priority.
