Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

Thailand is Cambodia's neighbor to the West, and this forum is dedicated to Thai news, stories, reviews, blogs, videos, Thai people and anything else related to the country. A lot of expats have both lived and worked in Cambodia and Thailand, and this area is a place to discuss all aspects of life in Thailand and what's going on there. Most topics are about Bangkok and Pattaya because of their larger populations of expatriates and tourists in those cities, but this is for all things Thai.
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yong
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Re: Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

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https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coron ... 7&si=44594

Thailand begins mass inoculations as ASEAN fights supply shortages
Vietnam gears up to produce Russia's Sputnik vaccine next month

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Residents of Pathum Thani Province receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on June 7, 2021. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha says, "Everyone will definitely be inoculated. Vaccines will continue to come in." © Reuters
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerJune 7, 2021 16:01 JST

BANGKOK/HO CHI MINH CITY -- Thailand on Monday became the latest country to begin mass inoculations against COVID-19, a crucial step toward being able to revive an economy that lost its main drivers more than a year ago.

"Today is the start of nationwide vaccinations," Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said at a kickoff event at Bang Sue Grand Station, a new commuter train hub in the capital that has been turned into a makeshift inoculation site. "No matter where you register, everyone will definitely be inoculated. Vaccines will continue to come in."

Elsewhere in Bangkok, large malls like Central World, Siam Paragon and Iconsiam have arranged to provide space where nearby residents can be vaccinated. Hospitals are collaborating in the effort.

As it begins its inoculation drive, Thailand finds itself in a race with its Southeast Asian peers for vaccines. Tiny Singapore has had some early success but faces difficulty in convincing seniors that the shots are safe. Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam hope to follow Thailand but are finding supplies hard to come by. Vietnam has asked the business community to help secure supplies.

Amid the struggle to obtain the scarce supplies that would allow them to reach herd immunity, these countries are also battling a new wave of infections.

In Thailand, the AstraZeneca vaccine will play the leading role. On Friday, the Ministry of Public Health received 1.8 million doses of the vaccine -- the first batch produced under license by Siam Bioscience, owned by King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

A local entity of AstraZeneca will gradually deliver a total of 6 million doses through June. The company did not specify if all of the supplies will come from the local partner.

"The allocation of vaccines depends on the number of vaccines that come in each period," said Kiattipoom Wongrachit, permanent secretary of the Public Health ministry. "They would be allocated in consideration of the vaccine-to-population ratio and the severity of the outbreak situation."

Thailand began selective vaccinations at the end of February, when Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul became the first Thailand resident to receive the Sinovac vaccine. A few weeks later, Prayuth received an AstraZeneca jab. Apart from ministers, health care professionals and other essential workers have been prioritized for shots.

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As of Saturday, 2.8 million of Thailand's 70 million residents, including foreigners, had received their first injection, and 1.3 million had completed their two-shot course. Thailand intends to vaccinate 70% of its residents by the end of the year.

All along Siam Bioscience planned to begin delivering vaccine batches in May or June. While it has managed to keep to its schedule, the government has allowed the virus to spin into dangerous territory.

The kingdom is suffering from its third coronavirus wave. Between March 23 and Sunday, 149,591 people were found to have contracted the virus. This accounts for 84% of the cases confirmed in the country since the dawn of the pandemic. Prisons, construction worker campsites and factories have recently given rise to clusters.

The Thai government has reserved 61 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. In addition, it has received 6 million Sinovac jabs. This is not enough for the country to achieve herd immunity, so it is approving different vaccines as it tries to scrape together as many supplies as possible.

Apart from AstraZeneca and Sinovac, Thailand has approved vaccines from Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and China's Sinopharm. Russia's Sputnik V and India's Covaxin are being registered at the country's Food and Drug Administration.

Inoculating residents is a crucial step in moving the Thai economy, which shrank 6.1% in 2020, toward recovery. Recent outbreaks have prompted some provinces to send out closure orders to schools as well as businesses like bars, spas and cinemas.

Beginning in July, Thailand is scheduled to allow vaccinated foreign travelers to stay in Phuket without a quarantine period. If this "sandbox experiment" succeeds, the government intends to begin accepting vaccinated international visitors at other destinations, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Krabi. Beginning in 2022, plans are to allow vaccinated tourists to freely move around the country.

A high inoculation rate will make it easier to reopen businesses and borders.

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Singaporeans older than 70 wait in an observation area after receiving vaccine injections. The city has fully vaccinated 31% of its population. (File photo by Reuters)

Southeast Asian nation's inoculation rates depend on their ability to secure jabs. Singapore is the region's most vaccinated nation. As of May 31, about 40% of its total population (2.28 million of 5.7 million) had received at least one shot, and 31% had been fully vaccinated, according to the health ministry.

Singapore's government has not detailed how many injections it has secured, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on May 31 said it had received "further confirmation of faster vaccine deliveries over the next two months."

The government now expects to administer at least one dose for all eligible residents by early August. The government uses the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, and has set up 40 inoculation centers nationwide. Residents use the internet to book appointments.

Singapore started vaccinating health care workers in December, then older age groups. Most shots are now being administered to residents age 40 to 44 as well as to students.

A significant portion of the elderly, however, has not received jabs. According to the government, 27% of people older than 60 have not made appointments, due to safety concerns, technical difficulties or other issues. The government now allows walk-in service at vaccination centers to encourage the elderly to get vaccinated.

Malaysia, which began its vaccination process in February, is currently performing 100,000 injections a day. As of Friday, some 2.29 million people had received jabs, with 1.13 million completing their two-shot course. The country, which has been under a tough nationwide lockdown since Tuesday due to a resurgence driven by more virulent variants, has a population of nearly 32 million.

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A woman receives a shot in Subang Jaya. Malaysia aims to be inoculating 200,000 people a day by end of July 2021. © Reuters

Previously, the country blamed its low vaccination rate on slow deliveries and unavailability as the countries producing vaccines hoarded supplies. Vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, China's Sinovac and AstraZeneca are currently in circulation.

The government aims to be inoculating 200,000 people a day by end of next month and is targeting the end of the year to reach herd immunity.

The Philippines on Monday started vaccinating its working-age population as it anticipates receiving additional supplies.

Manila expects to receive 10 million doses from different suppliers this month, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said last week, adding to the 8.3 million doses the country of 108 million had as of end-May.

The vaccination of workers -- the fourth category in an inoculation program that prioritized medical staff, the elderly and people with comorbidities -- comes as the government seeks to further open the economy and exit what last year became the worst recession in Southeast Asia.

The Philippines at the end of May had administered over 5 million doses, and 1.2 million people had received their second shots. It aims to administer 4 million to 5 million more doses this month.


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The Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish church in Quezon City, the Philippines. The country is to start vaccinating its working-age population sometime this month. © AP

Vietnam lags its regional peers on the vaccination front, partly due to a supply shortage, and now finds itself in a race to secure additional supplies as India, fighting a devastating outbreak, has halted vaccine exports.

Vietnam had been seen as one of the best in the world in containing the virus. But the industrial hub of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces is now experiencing cluster infections.

The government, which hopes to avoid supply chain disruptions, is now prioritizing workers when it comes to vaccine shots.

The government intends to obtain 150 million doses and to vaccinate around 75% of its population of about 96.4 million.

But as of Sunday, the government had secured only 2.9 million doses. The country's political leaders are now encouraging the business community to obtain supplies and vaccinate workers.

"Vietnam's vaccine sources completely depend on the manufacturers," deputy health minister Truong Quoc Cuong said. "Vietnam is not in the group prioritized for vaccine supplies."

As of Friday, Vietnamese health authorities had reported securing 120 million doses, 38.8 million from the World Health Organization, 30 million from AstraZeneca, 31 million from Pfizer, 20 million from Russia and 5 million from Moderna.

Hanoi has approved the AstraZeneca and Sputnik vaccines, and on June 3 added the Sinopharm vaccine to its list for emergency use.

Hanoi is also negotiating to produce Russia's Sputnik vaccine in Vietnam, starting next month. In the deal, Vietnam's Vabiotech would be expected to produce 5 million doses a month.

Additional reporting by Kentaro Iwamoto from Singapore, P Prem Kumar from Kuala Lumpur, Cliff Venzon from Manila, and Kim Dung Tong in Ho Chi Minh City.
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Re: Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

Post by Cowshed Cowboy »

I'm seeing a figure of approximately 416k for vaccinations administered yesterday which is very positive from a logistical point of view, 90% of the daily target which currently stands at 460k. Manufacturing or negotiating their way out of the supply side of the equation as outlined above is the key issue, having shown they can handle and dispense the physical levels of vaccination required
Yes sir, I can boogie, I can boogie, boogie, boogie all night long.
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Re: Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

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Today’s Covid new cases.

New Cases
Thailand 2,128 ( -200 )
Prison 534 ( +443 )
———————————————-
Total 2,662 ( +243 )

Deaths 28 ( -5 )

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Re: Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

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Today’s Covid new cases.

New Cases
Thailand 2,400 ( +272 )
Prison 280 ( -253 )
———————————————-
Total 2,680 ( +18 )

Deaths 35 ( +7 )

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Re: Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

Post by phuketrichard »

thai government is kicking ass;


Vaccination Rollout Since 7th June 2021:
Syringe DAY 1: 416,847 doses
Syringe DAY 2: 472,128 doses
TOTAL: 888,975

8th June:
1st Dose: Sinovac - 134,926 | AstraZeneca- 293,533
2nd Dose: Sinovac - 38,665 | AstraZeneca 5,004
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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Re: Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

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Today’s Covid new cases.

New Cases
Thailand 2,208 ( -192 )
Prison 102 ( -178 )
———————————————-
Total 2,310 ( -370 )

Deaths 43 ( +8 )

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Re: Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

Post by cautious colin »

phuketrichard wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 3:43 pm
2nd Dose: Sinovac - 38,665 | AstraZeneca 5,004
How long have they been giving the AZ vaccine? seems quick to get the second dose
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Re: Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

Post by phuketrichard »

cautious colin wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 1:18 pm
phuketrichard wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 3:43 pm
2nd Dose: Sinovac - 38,665 | AstraZeneca 5,004
How long have they been giving the AZ vaccine? seems quick to get the second dose
since back in april, had 2 thai friends that both got their 1st shot then

DAY 1: 416,847 doses
DAY 2: 472,128 doses
DAY 3: 336,674 doses
✅ TOTAL: 1,225,649

9th June:
📌 1st Dose: Sinovac 62,291 | AstraZeneca 231,428
📌 2nd Dose: Sinovac 37,453 | AstraZeneca 5,502
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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Re: Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

Post by ExPenhMan »

cautious colin wrote: Thu Jun 10, 2021 1:18 pm
phuketrichard wrote: Wed Jun 09, 2021 3:43 pm
2nd Dose: Sinovac - 38,665 | AstraZeneca 5,004
How long have they been giving the AZ vaccine? seems quick to get the second dose
The nation-wide vaccination program has actually gotten off to a decent start in Bangkok. Second shots of AZ are set for 16 weeks afterward here, according to expat reports.

I just registered online. Bit of a mishmash. Can only book 4-6 days in advance. Most foreigners will get the Thai AZ, though some have chosen the CoronaVac (by Sinovac).
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Re: Thailand Travel Restrictions and Info

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https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Transp ... 4&si=44594

Seven global airlines to fly direct to Thai holiday island Phuket
Government gives initial green light to reopening despite third COVID wave

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Thailand is set to conduct a "sandbox experiment" from July 1, using Phuket as a testing ground to welcome vaccinated foreign visitors with no quarantine period. © Reuters
MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writerJune 10, 2021 12:32 JST

BANGKOK -- Seven international airlines will operate direct flights to Phuket in southern Thailand, starting in July, bringing foreign tourists to the resort island, with the Thai government accepting visitors vaccinated for COVID-19 without quarantines.

Thai Airways International will focus on welcoming vacationers from five European cities. Flights from Paris; Frankfurt, Germany; and Copenhagen to Phuket will begin July 2, according to the national flag carrier's chief commercial officer, Nond Kalinta. Flights from London and Zurich will resume the next day.

British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Israel's El Al will operate flights to Phuket beginning in July, according to Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Thailand is set to conduct a "sandbox experiment" from July 1, using Phuket as a testing ground to welcome vaccinated foreign visitors. Tourists with proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test result can start their vacations immediately without sealing themselves in a hotel room, as visitors to other parts of Thailand are required to do.

Travelers must be fully vaccinated for at least 14 days before departure and show a negative test result within 72 hours of boarding their flight. If a mandatory test on the fifth day of their stay is negative, they will be allowed to take a day trip off the island.

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Major airlines are hoping to attract a strong flow of overseas travelers to Phuket under the government's pilot reopening program to maintain their routes profitably. © Reuters

The experiment's success is crucial for Thailand, as it will demonstrate the ability of Southeast Asia's second-largest economy to balance public health and fostering economic recovery.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is forecasting the arrival of 129,000 foreign visitors in the first three months of the experiment. If the program goes smoothly, vaccinated tourists will be allowed to travel to places such as Bangkok, Pattaya and Chiang Mai, starting in October, and throughout the country in 2022.

A lack of tourists was the main reason the Thai economy shrank 6.1% in 2020. Tourism and related businesses accounted for a fifth of Thailand's gross domestic product in pre-COVID times. The Thai tourism industry has high hopes that the experiment will help revive the sector.

Representatives of several travel agencies in Thailand told Nikkei Asia that the pilot program is drawing strong interest from European travelers, many of whom typically spend weeks during the summer in tropical resorts.

Many in the industry had feared that the experiment could be postponed due to a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that the kingdom has been battling since March. Over 2,000 cases a day have been reported since mid-May. However, on Tuesday, the cabinet gave a provisional green light to begin the reopening program in July, suggesting that the current level of local infections will not stop the government from conducting the experiment.

About 400,000 people, more than 60% of Phuket's residents, have been vaccinated for the coronavirus, according to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects Singapore Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Taiwan's EVA Air, Korean Air, its budget subsidiary Jin Air and French-Dutch carrier KLM to join the seven participating airlines soon.

It is imperative for airlines to attract a strong flow of foreign tourists to Phuket to maintain their routes profitably. This is especially true for cash-strapped companies like Thai Airways, which is currently under court-supervised rehabilitation. Thailand's Central Bankruptcy Court is scheduled to vote on June 15 on whether to approve a rehabilitation plan submitted by the airline.

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