Far-flung U.S. citizens clamour for vaccines from embassies

[spidermike007]

This would sure be a great service, if they were to offer it. From a practical point of view, there are many clinics they could likely contract with, who could do the actual work. And most of us would be happy to pay for a real vaccine, like Pfizer or Moderna, instead of being offered the Sinojunk, which I would not take if it were the last vaccine on earth. 

 

But, will it happen? It is a long shot, at best. And waiting for Prayuth or Anutin to show us some leadership and competency is a frustrating exercise. 

[0815]

Fine the guy on the pic 6000THB ! ????

[Isaan sailor]

Perhaps we could make a deal:  they don’t have to provide vaccines for us, and we in turn, don’t have to pay taxes to them.

[d2b2]

3 minutes ago, placeholder said:

In some states not for undocumented aliens.

Which states? The federal policy is to try to vaccinate everyone. Failure to do so will prevent achieving herd immunity. It is in every state's and every person's s best interest to vaccinate as many as possible.

[Isaan sailor]

12 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

Yes, apparently.

Sure, you can have the same SinoVac junk they inject on their own hapless citizens.

[asiacurious]

59 minutes ago, Nanaplaza666 said:

You'r an american when you hold an American passport and has nothing to do with voting or paying taxes . They should help all their citizens .

America land of the free , but if you don't pay taxes or vote you are not alligable to get vaccinated . 

 

You are correct.  All Americans abroad should be able to receive the vaccine whether or not a person is required to file or pay taxes.  The "taxing paying American" can be seen as shorthand for "vaccines purchased using tax dollars for the stated purpose of vaccinating all Americans."

 

[John Drake]

10 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

This would sure be a great service, if they were to offer it. From a practical point of view, there are many clinics they could likely contract with, who could do the actual work. And most of us would be happy to pay for a real vaccine, like Pfizer or Moderna, instead of being offered the Sinojunk, which I would not take if it were the last vaccine on earth. 

 

But, will it happen? It is a long shot, at best. And waiting for Prayuth or Anutin to show us some leadership and competency is a frustrating exercise. 

 

Doesn't Jusmag already have a retiree office for US military retirees in Thailand? Why can't that be coopted? 

[pathologix]

16 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

Logistically not feasible.  What would an embassy do?  Set up a mass vaccination site on embassy grounds?  Not likely.  Security to enter any US Embassy(especially now) is cumbersome.  Also, the embassy would then have o set up a process to register, verify and book time slots for the vaccination.  Could the embassy hire local medical staff to vaccinate only it's citizens?  It could turn into a diplomatic nightmare.  If it got really bad in any country the only real assistance the embassy would provide is emergency evacuation(anyone remember those flights from Japan to Travis Air Force Base in 2020?).  Of course even embassy operated evacuations are not free.  As I recall the US Embassy charged each evacuated person from Japan approximately $4400.  

 

This is issue is Dead on Arrival.  

It was somehow feasible to vaccinate thousands of embassy employees and their dependents with Pfizer.
It was somehow feasible to vaccinate hundreds of millions of domestic citizens in a few short months.
Surely someone is smart enough to figure out how to get a few hundred citizens jabbed at the embassy each day. (Maybe fewer, given all the anti-vaxxers that seem to have washed up here.)
You are aware that the place if filled with logistics experts?

Edited May 13, 2021 by pathologix

[metisdead]

Some off topic posts regarding the Australian Embassy have been removed.

 

A conspiracy troll post has been removed. 

 

Some troll posts have been removed. 

[Nanaplaza666]

1 hour ago, d2b2 said:

Voting does not seem relevant, except as a reminder that expats do play a role in seating those elected officials who received the letter. Taxes, however are what have paid for both the development and distribution of the vaccines stateside and pointing out that expats have contributed to that expense every bit as much as those stateside and their contribution should be worthy of receiving the same lifesaving dividend.. I don't think anyone is suggesting that those with no tax liability or dependants or non voters should be passed over for vaccines.

What are you saying ? They are Americans tax or not maybe they have spend their lives in America and spend their hard earned money there for most of their lives just because they don't pay tax doesn't mean they didn't contribute to the society . So sending vaccines to India makes more sence to you then sending it to an American abroad ? I think the American expats here in thailand wouldn't mind paying for the vaccine America sends over as long as they have a choice to wich one they can take . 

[holy cow cm]

 

 

Always looks a little odd when you see an older guy with a young son or daughter, but they look happy. I am tossed on if the Embassy should help out or not. But technically the USA could bring in the vaccine under diplomatic immunity and when at the Embassy in BKK or Consulate as in CM, it is USA property and Thailand cannot say anything. Even Mr. Congenial who masquerades as a Health official.

[creative1000]

This isn't a logistical nightmare, and office staff don't have to be the nurses doing it...

If the embassy wanted to vaccine eligible people, it could be very easy to rollout through selected 3rd party hospitals.  Create a financial contract with several hospitals = easy income for hospital. Use the embassy (or online bureaucratic processing center) to do the administrative stuff ie process the application + receive a free hospital voucher with QR Code (like a concert ticket) either through email or in-person. The hospitals would then scan QR codes and match name with passport, then vaccine. The person could then return for their second jab later using the same process.

Edited May 13, 2021 by creative1000

[Abmong]

17 hours ago, placeholder said:

I don't know what countries you're referring to, but I've been to the US embassy a few times and it didn't look like anyone was slacking off to me. I did get prompt, polite and consistently intelligent service and assistance from the employees. Same experience with the consulate.Just maybe, they don't have the time  or training to turn themselves into a health clinic.

Or they could just arrange the payment for their citizens to get vaccinated in a private hospital.

[placeholder]

2 minutes ago, Abmong said:

Or they could just arrange the payment for their citizens to get vaccinated in a private hospital.

vaccinated with what?

[Abmong]

Just now, placeholder said:

vaccinated with what?

That will depend on whatever arrangements the US cares to make.

[placeholder]

2 minutes ago, Abmong said:

That will depend on whatever arrangements the US cares to make.

There are no vaccines in the private hospitals. And most expats aren't complaining about being charged to get vaccinated. It's being unable to get vaccinated.

[GiveMeAColdOne]

Quote

"We have not historically provided private healthcare for Americans living overseas, so that remains our policy," Psaki told reporters.

This is dumbest answer ever:  setting aside the fact that the US govt doesn't provides private healthcare to anyone, including those in the USA - a vaccination is not healthcare but a potentially life-saving prophylactic.  And, as been highlighted above, there are numerous examples of the US govt providing vaccines in the past.  Furthermore, they have vaccinated local Thai citizens (contractors, etc) of which the govt also does not provide any healthcare to (nor receives taxes from!).

 

As said, taxation is a two way street.  If the govt is going to accept my taxes, they should provide benefits. 

 

I ask Americans in this forum who lives overseas to provide me examples of ANY benefit they have received from paying their taxes (that, of course, you don't pay extra for: e.g., passports, notary at the Embassy, etc...).   

[kynikoi]

Learned in 2005 tsunami embassies worthless for assistance. 2021 just reinforces it yet again.

[Chiang Mai Bill]

7 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

"Logistically very feasible.  How many expats from the US do you think there are in Thailand?  No need to enter very far onto the grounds.  Set up a big tent outside of the buildings.  Safer for unvaccinated people to not congregate inside of buildings anyway.  Appointment system?  Are you kidding?  This is so easy to do.  Easy to automate confirmation emails.  Military medics can be brought in to administer vaccines if needed, but local nurses could also be hired."

 

1) The exact number is unknown.  Could be at least 25,000?

2) US Embassies, in order to enter, have probably the tightest security protocols.  "A big tent"? On Wireless Road? 

3) Appointment system?  How long is the wait now for s simple service at the US Embassy or Consulate.  For passport renewals the US Embassy has been pushing mail in in order to discourage people from coming to the embassy for in person services

4) Nothing is "easy" when it comes to anything involving the US Embassy

5) Military Medics? From where?  The nearest US Military base with medics is probably in Japan or S. Korea.  The embassy reports to the State Department and Military Medics are under the control of the Defense Department.  This would require cooperation between DOS and DOD(sometimes not so much)

6) Local Nurses?  How would the Thai Government feel about that?  

7) The odds of an Embassy that charges $50 for a Notary stamp and no longer issues income letters taking on  this type of mission is Slim and none.  

 

As an American who has lived in several countries I have always felt rather unwelcome whenever I went to US Embassies.  This includes Thailand, Kuwait, Haiti, Kabul and Baghdad.  

I doubt that any country knows the exact number of its citizens that live abroad -- never mind the country they are in and where they live within that country -- even the great USA!!!

 

It is not in the remit for embassies to offer medical assistance -- they can offer legal advice and support but I doubt that they have the facilities in 'every' country to administer vaccination other than to their own staff. They will have been given vaccine for embassy staff of course but not 'unknown' amounts for a hypothetical number of expats in a country!

 

Perhaps 'home base' assume that most countries reciprocate and vaccinate the whole of the population regardless of origin?

 

Ex-pats do not have the same 'facilities' received at 'home' -- especially, of course, if they live in a third-world country that has poor infrastructure to cope with mass pandemics -- or mismanage the situation through ignorance such as Thailand and the EU!

 

 

[GiveMeAColdOne]

52 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

Doesn't Jusmag already have a retiree office for US military retirees in Thailand? Why can't that be coopted? 

Or AFRIMS and the US Army.  

[metisdead]

Another Covid conspiracy troll post and a reply has been removed.

[spidermike007]

1 hour ago, John Drake said:

 

Doesn't Jusmag already have a retiree office for US military retirees in Thailand? Why can't that be coopted? 

It would be a very easy thing to do if they wanted to. I have always felt that the US govt. considers us to be a form of traitors, for having the audacity to leave the "beloved nation". It is #1 after all. LOL. 

[GiveMeAColdOne]

The really sad part here is that the current Administration is missing a golden opportunity to:

1) Identify (& document?) a large portion of Americans living in every country (some say 5 million total expats -- others say 8 million:  no one knows) .  People will come out of the woodwork to get vaccinated.  This information itself can pay for the exercise.  

2) Demonstrate to the rest of the world (and to Americans themselves) that the USA is still one of the most powerful nations on earth and has tremendous capabilities (imagine the photo ops of the US military mobilizing for good to assist in vaccinations!).  Look at the great mileage they get from "no soldier left behind..."

3) Get a lot of overseas votes (5 million American's is the same as the population of Alabama!).

4) Get a quick and easy bipartisan "win" that demonstrates the commitment to the American people.

5) Strengthen the argument of why American's abroad should pay taxes.

 

Instead, they will continue to disenfranchise Americans overseas who will be less inclined to vote for them in the future - and will remain incognito.

 

Frankly this won't cost much.  They already fly plane-loads of Amazon & Wal-mart <deleted> to all 220 Embassies every day via APO/DPO... A few extra boxes of vaccines will hardly be noticed... 

[placnx]

7 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

"Logistically very feasible.  How many expats from the US do you think there are in Thailand?  No need to enter very far onto the grounds.  Set up a big tent outside of the buildings.  Safer for unvaccinated people to not congregate inside of buildings anyway.  Appointment system?  Are you kidding?  This is so easy to do.  Easy to automate confirmation emails.  Military medics can be brought in to administer vaccines if needed, but local nurses could also be hired."

 

1) The exact number is unknown.  Could be at least 25,000?

2) US Embassies, in order to enter, have probably the tightest security protocols.  "A big tent"? On Wireless Road? 

3) Appointment system?  How long is the wait now for s simple service at the US Embassy or Consulate.  For passport renewals the US Embassy has been pushing mail in in order to discourage people from coming to the embassy for in person services

4) Nothing is "easy" when it comes to anything involving the US Embassy

5) Military Medics? From where?  The nearest US Military base with medics is probably in Japan or S. Korea.  The embassy reports to the State Department and Military Medics are under the control of the Defense Department.  This would require cooperation between DOS and DOD(sometimes not so much)

6) Local Nurses?  How would the Thai Government feel about that?  

7) The odds of an Embassy that charges $50 for a Notary stamp and no longer issues income letters taking on  this type of mission is Slim and none.  

 

As an American who has lived in several countries I have always felt rather unwelcome whenever I went to US Embassies.  This includes Thailand, Kuwait, Haiti, Kabul and Baghdad.  

Obviously this would happen only on explicit orders from Washington. The American Embassy staff would then have to perform or get negative points, possibly posts to challenging places! It would help having the understanding of the Thai government. Maybe the Thai ambassador in Washington would be a better way to communicate on this subject than the Bangkok embassy.

[chilly07]

Instead of pointless military exercises allowing thousands of military personnel in to the country to  superspread, lesser sums of taxpayers money could be spent restricting the navy ships to humanitarian vaccination exercises for US Expats using military medics. Ditto for the UK sending it's Navy to SE Asia for obscure activities linked to attempts to join Asean!?!

 

[Derek B]

Why does the chap in the photo not have a mask on whilst his son does?

 

[Uroller]

I often question how useful embassies actually are but I certainly don’t see them as MASH units for citizens who have decided to live outside of their countries????If you have chosen to live in a foreign country you have chosen to leave certain rights and comforts so I suggest you deal with it????

[Freddy42OZ]

It would not have not even crossed my mind to ask or expect my country's consulate/embassy to provide me with a vaccine. 

I live in Thailand, I'll get one when Thailand makes them available and according to any waiting list etc. 

It definitely isn't up to the UK Government to make sure I get vaccinated. 
 

[John Drake]

3 minutes ago, Freddy42OZ said:

It would not have not even crossed my mind to ask or expect my country's consulate/embassy to provide me with a vaccine. 

I live in Thailand, I'll get one when Thailand makes them available and according to any waiting list etc. 

It definitely isn't up to the UK Government to make sure I get vaccinated. 
 

 

This topic isn't about the UK. So, no need for you to worry.

[timkeen08]

8 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

"Logistically very feasible.  How many expats from the US do you think there are in Thailand?  No need to enter very far onto the grounds.  Set up a big tent outside of the buildings.  Safer for unvaccinated people to not congregate inside of buildings anyway.  Appointment system?  Are you kidding?  This is so easy to do.  Easy to automate confirmation emails.  Military medics can be brought in to administer vaccines if needed, but local nurses could also be hired."

 

1) The exact number is unknown.  Could be at least 25,000?

2) US Embassies, in order to enter, have probably the tightest security protocols.  "A big tent"? On Wireless Road? 

3) Appointment system?  How long is the wait now for s simple service at the US Embassy or Consulate.  For passport renewals the US Embassy has been pushing mail in in order to discourage people from coming to the embassy for in person services

4) Nothing is "easy" when it comes to anything involving the US Embassy

5) Military Medics? From where?  The nearest US Military base with medics is probably in Japan or S. Korea.  The embassy reports to the State Department and Military Medics are under the control of the Defense Department.  This would require cooperation between DOS and DOD(sometimes not so much)

6) Local Nurses?  How would the Thai Government feel about that?  

7) The odds of an Embassy that charges $50 for a Notary stamp and no longer issues income letters taking on  this type of mission is Slim and none.  

 

As an American who has lived in several countries I have always felt rather unwelcome whenever I went to US Embassies.  This includes Thailand, Kuwait, Haiti, Kabul and Baghdad.  

I'm not flying to Bangkok just for a vaccine.  See, it gets even more complicated then people think or want.  Without Thai governmental assistance or approval.  The US can't just run right in to our rescue and do what they want.  It can be a very complicated and lengthy process or simple solutions might be arranged if there really such an emergency fir some that just can't wait.  The US Embassy has already sent out STEP notifications to follow Thai government processes.