Walk-in vaccinations

Anything and everything about Thailand
Post Reply
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21461
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Walk-in vaccinations

Post by Gaybutton »

I don't know if this will apply to farang, but I'm guessing it will.

Part of the second article mentions that it is unclear what kind of proof of residency foreigners would need. I'm wondering why anyone would need any proof, whether they're in Thailand legally or not. Thailand is not exactly overflowing with tourists at the moment. If nothing else, certainly the vast majority of farang currently in Thailand are here legally. If they want to end the Covid crisis, then vaccinate everyone who wants it, regardless or who they are, where they come from, or whether they are in Thailand legally.

If nothing else, maybe do something like no-questions-asked for the first 2 or 3 months once this becomes available.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ministry promises 'walk-in' virus shots

by Apinya Wipatayotin

May 13, 2021

Walk-in services for Covid-19 vaccination could be immediately taken to any province that is ready to provide free jabs to any person who has expressed a wish to get the vaccine, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

Speaking after a meeting of national committee on vaccine, Deputy Prime Minister and Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who headed the meeting, said the ministry is adjusting its plan for a mass vaccination scheduled to take place next month.

Mr Anutin said the plan covers a walk-in service nationwide and the ministry was introducing a new application for vaccine registrations for those who request one.

The ministry had to adjust the plan to provide alternative channels for people to have access to the Covid-19 vaccine, he said.

He also said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha voiced concerns during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, saying the number of people who have registered for vaccination programmes was below target.

He proposed the walk-in service for those who want to receive Covid-19 vaccines across the country.

"The ministry is ready to back the prime minister's idea and it has assigned the Department of Disease Control to design a proper format to enable vaccine recipients as much as possible," he said.

"I don't want anyone who walks in to be rejected.

"We have tried our best to provide public health services to people.

"Each provincial committee on communicable disease will take into consideration proper places and the number of vaccines to be provided for the walk-in service."

The government's hopes to vaccinate en masse people who have received a low response from the targeted group since the ministry launched the Line account "Mor Prom".

The account was set up for vaccine registration, targeting around 16 million people who are aged over 60 and who have seven types of chronic diseases.

Meanwhile, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, chief of the Department of Disease Control, said the service will help improve rollout to the public without any limitations.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... irus-shots
_____________________________________________________________________

Walk-in Covid-19 vaccines will be available to all residents in Thailand nationwide from June onwards, Public Health Minister says

By Nop Meechukhun

12 May 2021

All residents in Thailand nationwide will be able to receive Covid-19 vaccine shots without having to make an appointment from sometime in June onwards, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced today, May 12th.

The National Vaccine Committee, chaired by the Public Health Minister, also gave a green light to all provinces to provide vaccination centers for the first shot of Covid-19 vaccine inoculation, to accelerate the domestic injection of up to 70 percent of all residents in each province.

Additionally, the committee approved the additional procurement of 5 million Covid-19 vaccines, making a total of 150 million doses in Thailand, as well as negotiations with potential vaccine companies to acquire vaccines to fight new Covid-19 variants.

Anutin stated that the mass vaccination is planned into three groups from June, in order to create herd immunity, as follows:

1. Those who are registered via the ‘MohPrompt’ (Doctors Ready) application.
2. Those who are requesting vaccination as a group, such as in large factories or enterprises.
3. Those who are unable to book the vaccination online or facing problems with the registration. This group will likely include foreign residents, notes The Pattaya News, although crystal clear details around this have still not been revealed, with the Thai Government only repeatedly saying foreign residents will be allowed to get the vaccine without clarification on what proof of residency will be required. This is expected to be clarified over the next few weeks.

Each province has its own responsibility for the provincial inoculation. The Public Health Ministry is responsible for distributing vaccines upon its request only. Those going in for vaccinations will not be able to request their own brand, those interested in specific brands would need to explore options at private hospitals when they obtain supplies of vaccines, added the Public Health Ministry.

Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong of the Department of Disease Control (DDC) further reasoned that the provincial inoculation, not only in high-risk areas, will likely speed the procedure nationwide. Provincial Public Health Offices can also conduct mass vaccination without waiting for permission once they are ready.

“Walk-in vaccinations will also reduce the barriers to technology inaccessibility and encourage more people to receive the vaccination. People must evaluate any side effects from the jab via the Mor Prom application. If they don’t have the app, medical staff will conduct the follow-up,” Dr. Opas concluded.

https://tpnnational.com/2021/05/12/walk ... ster-says/
Jun

Re: Walk-in vaccinations

Post by Jun »

Gaybutton wrote: Thu May 13, 2021 6:44 am Part of the second article mentions that it is unclear what kind of proof of residency foreigners would need. I'm wondering why anyone would need any proof, whether they're in Thailand legally or not. Thailand is not exactly overflowing with tourists at the moment. If nothing else, certainly the vast majority of farang currently in Thailand are here legally. If they want to end the Covid crisis, then vaccinate everyone who wants it, regardless or who they are, where they come from, or whether they are in Thailand legally.
That's way too sensible, but Thailand seems to love form filling and stamping.

The only thing they actually need to avoid is making it so easy that free vaccination becomes a carrot to draw in even more illegal immigrants. Even then, the additional numbers ought to be small.
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21461
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Walk-in vaccinations

Post by Gaybutton »

Jun wrote: Thu May 13, 2021 2:44 pm Thailand seems to love form filling and stamping.
No argument there.

As for attracting more illegal immigrants, perhaps, but they keep coming anyway. I'd rather have vaccinated illegals than "un-vaccinated".
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21461
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Walk-in vaccinations

Post by Gaybutton »

It still is not clear whether foreigners will be allowed for the walk-in vaccinations. In fact in the current article nothing about foreigners is mentioned at all.

However according to the second article, foreigners in Bangkok will be able to register for the free vaccinations beginning in August, via the Mor Phrom LINE app. So, if you are in Bangkok and will want to register, if you don't have LINE on your smartphone or tablet, you need to download it and install it. It is free. The article doesn't say whether similar programs will be available anywhere else.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Blanket vaccination plan to launch in June

by Mongkol Bangprapa

14 May 2021

Walk-in vaccination services will be part of a blanket, three-channel Covid-19 inoculation campaign to be launched by the government next month.

Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said on Friday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wanted to inoculate as many people as possible to minimise the risk of infection, severe illness and fatalities.

The national committee on vaccination resolved on May 12 that vaccination would be provided through three channels, including walk-in services where people will be vaccinated for free. Ms Traisuree said.

Preparations were now being made to put this plan into practice, she said.

Different provinces were at different levels of readiness, and information coming from them could be confusing, the spokeswoman said.

Gen Prayut was concerned about this, and had instructed local authorities to do a better job of informing the people.

Meanwhile, the government had lifted its target from procuring 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccines to 150 million doses, so there would be enough for everybody, she said.

Blanket vaccinations would begin in June through three channels - online registration via the Mor Prom (doctors ready) app; group registration through public health volunteers or other groups of officials, or private companies; and walk-ins by people.

Vaccines would be distributed through the three channels in the ratio of 30:50:20 respectively. However, this could be adjusted by provincial disease control committees, she said.

“Walk-in services for vaccination will certainly be opened, so that people who could not register online or did not make an appointment can still be inoculated.

"However, walk-in services will depend on the readiness of each area. The quantity of vaccine available and the virus situation must also taken into consideration in each area, such as in Bangkok," Ms Traisuree said.

Walk-in services may not be suitable in areas of high infection, where any gathering of people would increase the risk of contagion.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration had therefore decided not to offer walk-in vaccination for the time being, but the service would certainly be offered as soon as circumstances allowed, she said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... ch-in-june
_______________________________________________________

Foreigners in Bangkok can register for Covid jabs in August: BMA

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) aims to allow foreigners to register for a Covid-19 vaccine from August onwards, BMA spokesman Phongsakorn Kwanmuang said on Thursday.

May 14, 2021

“BMA is working in line with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s policy, who said last week that everybody in Thailand will get a vaccine on a voluntary basis as per international standards. This will cover all persons living in Thailand, whether they are Thai or foreigners,” he said.

“As the vaccine registration system [via the Mor Phrom Line account] is now targeting primarily Thais, BMA plans to add registration for foreigners and expects it to go into effect from August.”

Phongsakorn further added that BMA also plans to vaccinate homeless people in the future to efficiently control the outbreak in the city, which is now logging the highest number of infections in the country.

“BMA urges people to register via the Line application instead of walking into vaccination venues without an appointment. Registration allows the authorities to determine how many doses each unit requires daily and this will prevent under or oversupply,” Pongsakorn added. “If there are more recipients than vaccines at a vaccination venue, priority will be given to those working in high-risk jobs.”

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000875
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21461
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Walk-in vaccinations

Post by Gaybutton »

According to the following article in the Pattaya Mail, foreigners will be eligible to use the walk-in vaccine services just like Thais. As soon as walk-in facilities open, foreigners can use them.
__________________________________

Foreigners in Thailand will also be eligible to use walk-in vaccination services

By Pattaya Mail

May 17, 2021

The government is developing a vaccination registration app, especially for foreign residents, as there has been confusion about the registration process among expats, migrant workers and other foreigners.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy spokesperson Natapanu Nopakun said mass vaccinations could begin as soon as next week, as supplies have arrived earlier than expected. The inoculation program will move ahead quickly once they are distributed.

He said that, even if foreign nationals do not make bookings using the Mor Prom application, they will be eligible to use walk-in vaccination services as soon as they are officially opened, adding that any provinces that are ready to provide the vaccines on a walk-in basis can commence operations immediately.

Mr. Natapanu added that authorities would like to make services to foreigners available in English and other languages if possible, to avoid any miscommunication.

https://www.pattayamail.com/featured/fo ... ces-355799
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21461
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Walk-in vaccinations

Post by Gaybutton »

According to Thaivisa, foreigners will be able to register for vaccinations by August. Meanwhile, as far as I know once walk-in vaccinations will also be available. No word yet on when other vaccines will be available via private hospitals.
_________________________________________________________________________

Foreigners in Thailand are likely to be able to register to receive the COVID-19 vaccination by August, the government said on Monday.

According to spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek, the Ministry of Public Health is currently in the process of setting up a registration platform for expats and foreigners working in Thailand.

The platform is expected to be available by August, Ms Ratchada said during the daily press briefing.

It is not yet known if foreigners will be able to purchase the vaccine from private hospitals before August.

Meanwhile, it was also announced that all Thais aged between 18 and 59 can register to receive the vaccine from May 31.

Thais can register for the vaccine using the Mor Prom platform or via the Mor Prom account on the Line app. Registrations can also be made at government hospitals.

Initially registrations for vaccines had only been open to Thais aged over 60 or those suffering from chronic health conditions.

However, the opening of the registration to all Thai adults has now been brought forward from July in order to stem the spread of the virus during this third wave of infections.

Ms Ratchada said most vaccines administered in Thailand will be the locally made AstraZeneca vaccine but that Sinovac, Moderena and Johnson & Johnson vaccines had all been approved for use by the Thai government.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/121747 ... -by-august
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21461
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Walk-in vaccinations

Post by Gaybutton »

Here we go again. More changes. Now foreigners might not be able to get walk-in vaccinations because there might not be any walk-in vaccinations.

Welcome once again to my "I Don't Get It" list. To me it would make the most sense to try to get everyone in Thailand vaccinated, no matter who they are, whether foreign or Thai, as quickly as possible. I'm no expert, but wouldn't that have a much better chance of working than closing restaurants at 9:00pm? I fail to see any sense whatsoever in standing in the way of people getting vaccinated.

I have a feeling a great many farang are going to end up buying their vaccines at private hospitals once they become available. And I still believe immigration will make vaccinations mandatory for retirement visas. We'll see.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Foreigners worry about when they can get a Covid-19 vaccine as Thai prime minister pauses idea of walk-in vaccinations

By Adam Judd

19 May 2021

An announcement yesterday by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan O’Cha in which he said he had personally put a “pause” on the idea of walk-in vaccinations has caused many foreigners to be concerned about when they could get a Covid-19 vaccine.

Thai officials with the Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) have previously stated multiple times that foreign residents will be able to take part in the government mass vaccination program. However, any specific details have yet to be released, including what the definition of “resident” is. There are several media reports of some foreigners with work permits in essential fields, such as medical workers or teachers, who have been signed up for vaccinations through their company or organization, but for the most part, the vast majority of foreigners in Thailand remain waiting for more information.

The CCSA has stated that although some foreigners were able to successfully sign up with the Thai language vaccination mobile application with social security cards or “pink” cards, that those applications were for Thai nationals and not designed for foreigners. CCSA spokesperson Dr. Taweesin Visanuyothin has stated that an English language mobile application for vaccine registration of foreigners was in development, but there have been mixed reports on when this will be available, with some reports stating it could be as long as August.

CCSA English-language spokesman Natapanu Nopakun, also the deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hinted previously that foreigners may be able to take part in a proposed “walk-in” vaccination program, but this is also on hold after the Prime Minister put the idea of walk-ins on the ice yesterday afternoon.

According to Prime Minister Prayut Chan O’Cha, proceeding with walk-ins could cause scenes of chaos, as well as potentially further spread the Covid-19 virus and cause people unable to secure a vaccine to get angry. He didn’t permanently rule out ever doing walk-ins in the future, but it seems the idea is off the table for now, especially in Bangkok where the largest number of people reside and the largest number of Covid-19 cases. The PM did state that some provinces and areas, especially more rural ones, could probably pull off walk-ins without an issue but that would be evaluated by the CCSA in the future.

The PM also stated that confusing and conflicting messages by different organizations were contributing to more problems and that people should listen to the central messages from the CCSA around vaccinations. A proposal of manual registrations was also brought up for those without smartphones or health officials going into local communities with the elderly, vulnerable, and at-risk to invite them for vaccination.

Meanwhile, foreigners who were hoping to walk in for a vaccine to the upcoming start of mass vaccinations in Pattaya will need to wait a while longer, causing much concern on social media comments over the past day. With no sign of a foreign language application in the near future or the ability to walk into a vaccination site, many foreign residents would be interested to register for a vaccine at a private hospital. Some hospitals have begun registration, although there is no definitive date on when their supplies, most likely to be Moderna vaccines, will arrive or even what the exact cost will be.

For now, foreign residents, many of whom pay tax, raise Thai children, run Thai businesses, and have Thai wives and support extended Thai families, will need to wait. In areas like Pattaya, which plan to re-open to foreign tourists by October, or Phuket, which is planning to open in July, this is especially worrying for those who want to be fully protected by a vaccine before tourists return.

TPN media will keep you updated as soon as we get concrete information on any vaccine process that foreign residents can take place in, private or public.

https://thepattayanews.com/2021/05/19/f ... cinations/
________________________________________________________________

Prayut puts brakes on walk-in jabs

19 May 2021

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has put the brakes on walk-in services for Covid-19 vaccinations to prevent people flocking to the inoculation sites and becoming upset if they fail to secure a jab, a government source said.

During a cabinet meeting held via videoconference, Gen Prayut said he disagreed with vaccination walk-ins because people would turn up in droves causing chaos at the selected locations, particularly in Bangkok which has a large population, the source said.

The prime minister wanted a new vaccination format such as on-site registration, the source quoted the PM as saying.

Currently, the Mor Prom app serves as the main channel for people to book their appointments, and concerned agencies have been instructed to work on preventing any technical glitches that may leave the app unable to work properly, the source said.

"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," the source quoted the prime minister as saying.

"If there are enough shots available, authorities will manage them. Vaccination walk-ins are a sensitive issue and must be handled carefully,'' the source quoted the prime minister as saying.

Gen Prayut also warned agencies not to give confusing information about vaccination walk-ins, stressing that the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration is the only agency that should provide the public with the information, the source said.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... lk-in-jabs
Daleinpattaya
Posts: 90
Joined: Mon Oct 21, 2019 7:59 am
Has thanked: 106 times
Been thanked: 5 times

Re: Walk-in vaccinations

Post by Daleinpattaya »

I really believe that somewhere, not too deeply buried, are the two ole bugaboos…. FACE and ECONOMICS.
Jun

Re: Walk-in vaccinations

Post by Jun »

If the government lacks the talent to organize a vaccine roll out, all they have to do is assign some people to benchmark how it has been done in other countries. Then copy the best system that could be applied in Thailand.

Or just set up and use a database of people ordered by priority. Invite them to vaccination centres where the vastly overmanned army can handle the flow of people and administration, with some nurses wielding the needles. Logistics ought to be easy -either use the Army or a professional logistics company.

Walk in centres seem like a daft idea to me. They will most likely start off with long queues which will spread infection. Then, how do you control prioritization with a walk in centre ?
I would think walk in only makes sense if Thailand had 60 million doses ready to go AND the organization to deploy them all very quickly. They don't have 60 million doses, so they need to prioritize.
User avatar
Gaybutton
Posts: 21461
Joined: Sat Jul 31, 2010 11:21 am
Location: Thailand
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 1306 times

Re: Walk-in vaccinations

Post by Gaybutton »

Jun wrote: Thu May 20, 2021 7:03 pm copy the best system that could be applied in Thailand.
Right now I would be satisfied if the powers-that-be simply live up to their promises. The expat community is now being told we will be able to start registering for the vaccine in August. Just when in August, I don't know. How soon we can get the injection after registration, I don't know. Where we will be told to go to get it, I don't know. And what hoops we might have to jump through to get the second injection, I also don't know.

What I do know is we are being told things will start for farang in August. I hope so, but based on recent performance, I'm not holding my breath.

The free injections are most likely to be AstraZeneca. Maybe by August we'll have more solid information as to just how effective it really is and if we are unfortunate enough to experience side effects, just what kind of side effects to expect.

Until the vaccine is available for us, I suppose we could always seek treatment from the local witch doctor . . .
Post Reply