New dangerous Covid wave in Thailand - Get vaccinated

[Gaybutton]

The article says the vaccine is available at state hospitals. In Pattaya that would be Banglamung Hospital and (I think) Pattaya City Hospital. Probabaly also available at Queen Sirikit Hospital in Sattahip. I believe the vaccine is free.

I don't know if it is available at Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital. At the time of this post it is 6:30am. I have an appointment later today at that hospital. I'll check into it and update this post.
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COVID-19 infections on the rise with 1,811 cases and 10 deaths last week

May 2, 2023

COVID-19 infections in Thailand between 23rd and 29th of April increased to 1,811, or an average of 258 cases a day, and ten deaths, according to the Department of Disease Control.

So far this year, 8,382 people have been infected and treated at hospitals. Of these, 288 have died, 157 suffered lung infections and 79 were put on ventilators.

According to the department, 144 million doses of vaccine have been given to Thai people, including 57.2 million first inoculations, 53.7 million second doses and 33 million third doses.

Dr. Thira Woratanarat, a doctor at the Faculty of Medicine of Chulalongkorn University, said that the actual number of infections between 23rd and 29th of April may, however, actually be between 12,936 and 17,967, when allowing for the many cases which go unreported and do not seek treatment at hospitals.

He suggested that people keep their guard up by wearing face masks whenever they are in public venues and warned that every infection may result in illness or even death and the risk of developing Long COVID.

Meanwhile, Government Spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had urged everyone, but especially those who are over 60 or suffering from underlying diseases, to get LAAB (Long Acting Antibody) vaccines at state hospitals, to reduce risk of severe illness or death.

https://www.thaipbsworld.com/covid-19-i ... last-week/

[Gaybutton]

Update: Bangkok-Pattaya Hospital is not administering the vaccine at this time.

[Jun]

288 deaths so far in 2023. Approximately 864 annually.
According to the source linked below, the current death rate in Thailand is 8.297 per 1000, which I think gives us 581,000 deaths per annum.
So these covid deaths account for about 0.15% of the total. Naff all.

Not only that, but from what I have read in the last couple of years, the vaccine uptake among elderly Thais hasn't been that high.
So the death stats probably include a significant contribution from anti-vaxxers.

Those who keep up with vaccinations ought to worry about other things.

https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/T ... death-rate

It seems wise for people of a certain age to keep up with vaccinations and at least benchmark what is offered in their home countries and others.

The UK has been offering:
1 Two boosters per year for the elderly (over 75) & certain other conditions. My father was given the Sanofi vaccination this time, which is interesting as the UK has access to both of the MRNA vaccines.
2 Over 50s were offered the autumn booster last year, which was a bivalent MRNA vaccine (Pfizer-Biontech or Moderna).
3 Under 50s cannot get booster vaccines any more. In this age range, with recent infection rates, BOOSTERS do more harm than good. Obviously most of them already have some resistance from previous vaccines or infections.

Obviously the covid risk goes up with age and the vaccine side effects decrease with age, so it seems sensible for anyone significantly older than 50 to hunt down a bivalent vaccine once or twice per year.
At least for rational people who make decisions based on data.

[Gaybutton]

it seems sensible for anyone significantly older than 50 to hunt down a bivalent vaccine once or twice per year.

For once, I think we're agreed on this. But for me that doesn't matter. Neither does the data. I trust my doctor. I'll let him be the one to study and interpret the data - which I really don't understand in the first place.

If he says get the vaccine, I'm going to get the vaccine. If he says not to get the vaccine, then I won't get the vaccine. For me, it's as simple as that.


"You know my doctor? Doctor Vinnie Boombatz. He told me to jog 5 miles a day for two weeks. At the end of two weeks I called him up. I said, 'Doc, what do I do now? I'm 70 miles from my house.'"
- Rodney Dangerfield