Expats in Thailand report successfully registering to receive COVID-19 vaccine

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Image: Reuters, file photo

 

After Thailand officially opened up registration for people to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, some foreigners in the country have successfully been able to register to receive the jab.

 

On Saturday (1 May), the Ministry of Public Health launched the Mor Prom account on the Line mobile app which allows people in Thailand to register for vaccinations.

 

Those deemed most at risk, such as the elderly and those with chronic health conditions will be among the first to receive the jabs.

 

Starting in June, almost 12 million people in Thailand aged over 60, along with 4.3 million people with chronic or underlying health conditions, will start to receive the vaccination.

 

Underlying health conditions include severe chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and obesity

 

Since Mor Prom launched, there have been multiple reports on social media of foreigners successfully registering and even being given appointment dates for when they will receive the first dose of the vaccine.

 

However, successful registrations only appear to be possible for those who have one of the so-called ‘pink ID cards’ for foreigners or for those who have a Thai social security number.

 

On Saturday, a Thaivisa user reported using his pink ID card to register to receive the vaccine. You can read that report here. 

 

Another person who reported successfully registering for the vaccine using the Mor Prom Line account has long time expat and author of the first Lonely Planet guide for Thailand, Joe Cummings.

 

 

 

“I registered for vaccination via Mo Phrom today using my Thai ID”, Joe posted on Twitter.

 

In his Twitter thread, Joe confirmed that he has a ‘pink ID card’ and that he was able to use it to register for the vaccine. 

 

He said he was given an appointment date in June to receive the vaccination.

 

Meanwhile, another Twitter user @ThatOMGkid posted to say that she had been able to register using her Thai social security number via the Mor Prom app on Android, which she downloaded from the Google Play Store. 

 

Because Mor Prom is in Thai language, @ThatOMGkid said that she was able to use Google Translate as she does not read Thai.

 

 

 

The news comes as the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Thursday reiterated that foreigners in Thailand would be eligible to receive the vaccine, although specific details for expats receiving the vaccine are yet to be announced. 

 

And as for exactly which brand of vaccine may be available remains to be seen.

 

On Friday, health minister Anutin Charnvirakul suggested that people in Thailand will not be able to choose which Covid-19 vaccine they receive. 

 

While private hospitals have been given approval to procure vaccinations, the government is yet to give the green light for other businesses in the private sector to do the same.

The Mor Prom Line account is available by scanning the QR code below and adding  the account as as friend in the Line app.

 

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-05-02

 

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[bdenner]

Quote

While private hospitals have been given approval to procure vaccinations,

The direction I'm taking has now been set in stone! Well until the next "Flip Flop"

[Sundown]

I just opened the Twitter thread linked and someone answered:

 

"Good luck. My wife successfully registered us 3 times only to then be rejected later. She got told over 60 Thais first, she won't be eligible until at least July or later."

 

 

[petedk]

I tried to register using social security number and failed. The reason being that it requires some digits from the back of the ID card.

[Tropicalevo]

17 minutes ago, Sundown said:

I just opened the Twitter thread linked and someone answered:

 

"Good luck. My wife successfully registered us 3 times only to then be rejected later. She got told over 60 Thais first, she won't be eligible until at least July or later."

 

 

I suspect that it varies by Province.

 

Here on Samui I was told not to bother. If I walked in for my appointment, I would be sent away again. Thais only until more vaccines are available.

They were very apologetic.

[Jingthing]

This news story angers me. It ignores the basic problem that the online registration tool will not accept passport numbers.  It's OK to state happy good news for some but there needs to  be major emphasis on how so many expats including high risk ones are blocked BY THE DESIGN of this tool to register. Recently the government announced that all foreigners in Thailand are included in the vaccine program. Really? How is that real if so many of us are blocked from registering?

[DirtyHarry55]

Typical didn't they just announce ALL Foreigners will get the vaccine?
Of course they just didn't say when will it be after all Thai's get it first? I seriously hope not!
Anyways lets hope it's just another misunderstanding and ALL Foreigners will be able to register soon.
If that's not the case probably a stiff letter of complaint to Astrazeneca and the British Foreign Office may be in order.

 

[TaoNow]

Do you really want to register if you cannot choose the brand of vaccine you receive when the time comes?

[Jingthing]

4 minutes ago, DirtyHarry55 said:

Typical didn't they just announce ALL Foreigners will get the vaccine?
Of course they just didn't say when will it be after all Thai's get it first? I seriously hope not!
Anyways lets hope it's just another misunderstanding and ALL Foreigners will be able to register soon.
If that's not the case probably a stiff letter of complaint to Astrazeneca and the British Foreign Office may be in order.

 

Most of our embassies are telling us they won't help us directly with doses. Could they possibly help in another way? Such as lobbying the Thai authorities to provide the app in English, allow passport numbers, and officially make it clear that high risk foreigners can be in the earlier group?

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, TaoNow said:

Do you really want to register if you cannot choose the brand of vaccine you receive when the time comes?

Beggars can't be choosers. 

[mahtin]

Being a beggar angers me; we should have the option to choose to buy.

[morrobay]

7 minutes ago, TaoNow said:

Do you really want to register if you cannot choose the brand of vaccine you receive when the time comes?

No - Forget about all this register/app , BS. Just walk into a private hospital with cash an ask for what you want and when you want it.  End of Story

[mahtin]

Mai mee.

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, mahtin said:

Being a beggar angers me; we should have the option to choose to buy.

I reckon most of us agree. But their house, their rules. 

If we're stuck with their national program and they're telling us and the world that all expats are included in that, it's not unreasonable to have a problem with really NOT being included. 

[DirtyHarry55]

7 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Most of our embassies are telling us they won't help us directly with doses. Could they possibly help in another way? Such as lobbying the Thai authorities to provide the app in English, allow passport numbers, and officially make it clear that high risk foreigners can be in the earlier group?

Yes we should definitely all lobby our Embassies and they should negotiate with the Thai Government to make sure we are given equal right to a vaccine paid or otherwise.
I'm betting all Embassy staff in Thailand got vaccinated lol.

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, morrobay said:

No - Forget about all this register/app , BS. Just walk into a private hospital with cash an ask for what you want and when you want it.  End of Story

Not happening. Maybe later. No guarantees.

[Jeffr2]

The app was over loaded and crashed. Wifey has been trying to use it and just got it working only to find out right now it's only for those over 60 or health care workers.

[Jeffr2]

Apparently, once you've downloaded the app, it will give you updates

[Somtamnication]

43 minutes ago, petedk said:

I tried to register using social security number and failed. The reason being that it requires some digits from the back of the ID card.

Same here.

[RobMuir]

30 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

This news story angers me. It ignores the basic problem that the online registration tool will not accept passport numbers.  I

 

Harden up.

 

22 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

lobbying the Thai authorities to provide the app in English, allow passport numbers,

 

 

Or how about you get a pink ID card and learn some Thai language since you live here.

 

Then maybe you could translate their website for them.

 

We are getting vaccines, stop complaining. 

 

You want the Thai government and your embassy to do everything for you and if they don't you get angry?

 

 

[Moonlover]

31 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

This news story angers me. It ignores the basic problem that the online registration tool will not accept passport numbers.  It's OK to state happy good news for some but there needs to  be major emphasis on how so many expats including high risk ones are blocked BY THE DESIGN of this tool to register. Recently the government announced that all foreigners in Thailand are included in the vaccine program. Really? How is that real if so many of us are blocked from registering?

I knew it wouldn't be too long before I read a post like this. Well here's the good news, no one has been 'blocked by design' at all. Those who took the trouble to read the whole article that was posted yesterday (Saturday) would have read this:

 

''What priority groups must do:

 

To get free a COVID-19 dose, they can register for vaccination from May 1 by contacting their hospital or village health volunteer. However, the government is encouraging people to register and make a vaccination appointment via LINE for greater convenience''.

 

So you don't HAVE to have a pink card at all. I have already been registered at our local clinic.

 

Vaccination booking opens in Thailand,

[WhiteBuffaloATM]

There is no real issue here. Foreigners wanting certainty must, as usual for any vax, register / select vax with private hospitals, (online easiest), and wait for appointment notice when vax arrives.

clearly no other reliable course of action (unless you leave country).

Have already registered online with Bangkok Phuket Hospital following their covid vax survey/request email last month. For us farangs & basic life rule, Govts do govt stuff, hospitals do hospital stuff, right?

[mahtin]

 

Seems to me govt is preventing hospitals from doing their stuff.

[Jeffr2]

6 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

I knew it wouldn't be too long before I read a post like this. Well here's the good news, no one has been 'blocked by design' at all. Those who took the trouble to read the whole article that was posted yesterday (Saturday) would have read this:

 

''What priority groups must do:

 

To get free a COVID-19 dose, they can register for vaccination from May 1 by contacting their hospital or village health volunteer. However, the government is encouraging people to register and make a vaccination appointment via LINE for greater convenience''.

 

So you don't HAVE to have a pink card at all. I have already been registered at our local clinic.

 

Vaccination booking opens in Thailand,

We registered with the local government official a few weeks ago. No confirmed date or type of vaccine. But they said it would be end of June or so.

[tomazbodner]

48 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

This news story angers me. It ignores the basic problem that the online registration tool will not accept passport numbers.  It's OK to state happy good news for some but there needs to  be major emphasis on how so many expats including high risk ones are blocked BY THE DESIGN of this tool to register. Recently the government announced that all foreigners in Thailand are included in the vaccine program. Really? How is that real if so many of us are blocked from registering?

Many of those who were saying how useless PR and pink ID were.

[brewsterbudgen]

43 minutes ago, TaoNow said:

Do you really want to register if you cannot choose the brand of vaccine you receive when the time comes?

Exactly.  I'd much rather wait until I can pay for the vaccine of my choice from a private hospital!

[brewsterbudgen]

30 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Not happening. Maybe later. No guarantees.

No guarantees, but a 99% certainty!  Private hospitals will need to increase their revenue! 

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, tomazbodner said:

Many of those who were saying how useless PR and pink ID were.

Gloating much?

[Jingthing]

5 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

No guarantees, but a 99% certainty!  Private hospitals will need to increase their revenue! 

Did you miss the recent announcement that the government had decided they will not allow private hospitals to acquire their own vaccines?

 

An example in point. A private hospital in Pattaya stated they will have doses "later" (not defined) and it will be the unpopular not very effective Sinovac and MAYBE one other brand. I'm assuming probably Astra Zeneca.

Edited May 2, 2021 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

10 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

We registered with the local government official a few weeks ago. No confirmed date or type of vaccine. But they said it would be end of June or so.

Is there a local government official to do that in Pattaya?