More VAX disappointment: PM Prayut puts the brakes on walk-in centers

[webfact]

Picture: Naew Na

 

Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has said that he disagrees with running vaccination walk-in centers. 

 

Naew Na said after a cabinet meeting at Government House yesterday that the PM had put the brakes on walk-in vaccination.

 

Daily News said that the Thai people would be disappointed. 

 

Prayuth apparently said during a cabinet meeting done via video conferencing that he wants a new format that involves having on-site registration. 

 

Consequently he called for the hurried redevelopment of the Mor Prom application that is used as a registration for vaccine tool. 

 

IT experts are supposed to be working on one suitable for foreigners in English.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Many of the nation's people - especially in Bangkok where 25 walk-in centers have been designated - were looking forward to getting their jabs easily and conveniently as early as the coming weeks.

 

This has now apparently been dashed by the PM's fears that people would come in droves and swamp the walk-in centers causing problems. 

 

Some will argue that there is more behind the decision to apply the brakes, namely the availability of vaccine, notes Thaivisa.

 

In Pattaya earlier in the week 20,000 doses of vaccine simply didn't arrive leaving people disappointed and frustrated. There was the suggestion that supplies had been diverted to where they were more needed. 

 

Thailand's government remains under intense pressure with the third and most devastating wave of infection yet causing the most deaths since the pandemic began. 

 

The walk-in rollout was hailed by officials but its future is now in doubt though it should be stressed that it has yet to be abandoned, just modified according to reports.  

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-05-19

 

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[Rampant Rabbit]

Well done ,you the man!. Whats  that,  hands up  if  youv'e already had  your  jab!

[clivebaxter]

Only 8 AM and the first U turn of the day reported, keep 'em coming we all love a cheer up ???? How is he going to get 70 per cent of Bkk vaccinated in 2 months at this rate?

Edited May 19, 2021 by clivebaxter

[RotBenz8888]

Another day, another u-turn. Who would've thought.... 

Edited May 19, 2021 by RotBenz8888

[ThailandRyan]

13 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thai prime minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has said that he disagrees with running vaccination walk-in centers. 

 

Naew Na said after a cabinet meeting at Government House yesterday that the PM had put the brakes on walk-in vaccination.

A giant Flop backwards.  Why is he so against a walk-in center? Is their not enough sinovac vaccine to go around here in Bangkok.  Someone seems to be a little over controlling in my book.  Lets roll out the vaccine, lets put Viral posters on the news and in ads showing the vaccine is safe and all Thai's must do their part, yet lets also just Sslloowwllyy roll out a vaccine to those that really want it.  I think he is afraid there will be few that show up and then vaccine will be wasted and need to be tossed in the bin, or better yet he is wanting the mor prom app up and running so that when folks sign up and then do not show up he can have them arrested.  So tired of this fricking game these folks are playing.  Looking at booking a flight back to the US, getting vaccinated and then returning after taking care of some personal business I have placed on hold before returning here and doing a 14 day quarantine again even though vaccinated.  Ugh, what a true fool this man and his fellow government officials are, well thats my opinion.  YMMV

Edited May 19, 2021 by ThailandRyan

[Artisi]

Come in droves etc. what an absolute load of bat sh 1 t, make if available each day to those who's birthday coincided with the days date. Wasn't too difficult a problem to solve. 

[bdenner]

Well it's obvious, he does not want to be embarrassed by the words - "No have!"

[tonray]

Perhaps a center where registration involves a phone bank xfer to a government official would work ?

[mfd101]

"Yet to be abandoned, just modified".

 

The funny thing with these 'non-political' politicians is that they can't even get the PR right, let alone the substance.

[club]

Another day , another contradiction. SAD 

[mtls2005]

OMG, this is like the fourth time this has been reversed, in less than a week.

 

One would think the regime leader could make a decision.

 

 

 

35 minutes ago, webfact said:

that people would come in droves and swamp the walk-in centers causing problems. 

 

I mean they can control student protesters, fire up the blue crowd control trucks, and don the riot gear.

 

Problem solved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MRToMRT]

All this masterful incompetence (from every sector of the government) really makes me want to throw in the towel and leave this place. 

Edited May 19, 2021 by MRToMRT

[madmitch]

If the initial vaccine centres in Phuket are anything to go by, they're all walk-in locations: people with appointments were turned away as they'd used all the vaccine on walk-ins.

 

 

Edited May 19, 2021 by madmitch

[cclub75]

There won't be enough doses for all those "millions" of people who are desesperate to be injected with products still in phase 3, supported only by "emergency authorization" around the world.

 

For once, Prayuth did something sensible !

 

Enough of the hysteria... Mass vaccination is still a fantasy in Thailand... Everything depends on the local factory (for Astra Zeneca)... It will take time.

 

So back to the "step by step" policy and "prioritization" like other countries did.

 

First the old and the sick individuals. Health care personel. etc.

 

Is it too hard to understand ?

 

"Walk-in" system was just a PR stunt.

[Somtamnication]

Ah, register online so the govt has your info in a database for later use. Got it!

[Gumballl]

1 minute ago, madmitch said:

If the initial vaccine centres are anything to go by, they're all walk-in locations: people with appointments were turned away as they'd used all the vaccine on walk-ins.

 

 

It should be controlled via appointments.

 

I do not know about the Chinese or the Russian vaccines, but the others (i.e. the better stuff) needs to be kept cool and/or extremely cold before being dispensed.

 

A coordinated effort needs to be made. At the end of the day, if any remaining vaccine is available, then by all means seek any bystanders willing to get vaccinated. The vaccine cannot be refrigerated.

 

For the "good" stuff... forget J&J... a second injection is needed within 3 weeks. Again, coordination is needed to ensure that the supply is available.

 

Please don't trivialize the effort.

[dukeandduke]

6 minutes ago, MRToMRT said:

All this masterful incompetence (from every sector of the government) really makes me want to throw in the towel and leave this place. 

 

I hear ya. I've had a great run here, but I'm thinking about alternatives. 

[mtls2005]

3 minutes ago, cclub75 said:

For once, Prayuth did something sensible !

 

Well, it's at least the third time he's reveresed course on this issue. Sensible? No. Even a monkey throwing darts could make more effective decisions.

 

 

Look, our consternation with this is not so much about whether there are walk-in centers tomorrow, it's about the lack of a plan, and any execution on that plan. And the semi-hourly reversal of statements, and plans.

 

Eventually there will be walk-in centers, especially when there are enough doeses and not enough up-take.

 

And yes, they will offer a cash incentive (guessing 1,500 - 3,000 baht), what better way to boost the economy and increase vaccination rates.

 

 

 

 

[mtls2005]

5 minutes ago, Somtamnication said:

Ah, register online so the govt has your info in a database for later use. Got it!

 

The government already has "your info".

 

They already have enough information to register and priooritize 95% of the population. Another app. is just plain silly.

 

[scorecard]

48 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

A giant Flop backwards.  Why is he so against a walk-in center? Is their not enough sinovac vaccine to go around here in Bangkok.  Someone seems to be a little over controlling in my book.  Lets roll out the vaccine, lets put Viral posters on the news and in ads showing the vaccine is safe and all Thai's must do their part, yet lets also just Sslloowwllyy roll out a vaccine to those that really want it.  I think he is afraid there will be few that show up and then vaccine will be wasted and need to be tossed in the bin, or better yet he is wanting the mor prom app up and running so that when folks sign up and then do not show up he can have them arrested.  So tired of this fricking game these folks are playing.  Looking at booking a flight back to the US, getting vaccinated and then returning after taking care of some personal business I have placed on hold before returning here and doing a 14 day quarantine again even though vaccinated.  Ugh, what a true fool this man and his fellow government officials are, well thats my opinion.  YMMV

 

Surely the reality is that the PM/Thailand should welcome massive numbers of folks turning up at walk-ins.

 

The reality is that they should have plans in place to cope with massive numbers, which is possible, many examples across the world of highly successful giant walk in centres.

 

Sure records need to be kept but this can be simplified and many folks could submit their details and a photo (if needed) on a tablet while they are waiting. With a small team to help folks who aren't tech savvy. 

 

If planned well it could also include the technology to record who has been jabbed for data collecting and a technology based instant vaccine certificate sent to the recipients e.mail address

 

Supply of vaccine is of course a problem, but the news seems to indicate there should be massive amounts of serum available/on the horizon include local manufacture.

 

Now stand by for the farang who will insist this all invades their freedoms... sad people.

 

 

Edited May 19, 2021 by scorecard

[Rampant Rabbit]

52 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Another day, another u-turn. Who would've thought.... 

[madmitch]

9 minutes ago, Gumballl said:

It should be controlled via appointments.

 

I do not know about the Chinese or the Russian vaccines, but the others (i.e. the better stuff) needs to be kept cool and/or extremely cold before being dispensed.

 

A coordinated effort needs to be made. At the end of the day, if any remaining vaccine is available, then by all means seek any bystanders willing to get vaccinated. The vaccine cannot be refrigerated.

 

For the "good" stuff... forget J&J... a second injection is needed within 3 weeks. Again, coordination is needed to ensure that the supply is available.

 

Please don't trivialize the effort.

I'm not trivializing it. I'm stating exactly what happened and it shouldn't have,

 

I actually agree with you that the system needs organisation or the entire project will be chaotic.

[Rampant Rabbit]

I DEMAND another committee!!! (Darned  annoyed of Hua  Hin) grrrrrr.

[colinneil]

Well the master of the U turns strikes again, he has absolutely no idea what to do.

Oh maybe today i will, oh no wait a minute i wont, useless/ spineless waste of space.

[Thailand]

One day the ptb will get things right but that would require resigning on mass and holding genuine free and fair elections.

 

Then I woke up!

[steven100]

Until they have adequate supply ....  walk-in centres would be useless, what are they going to give them, a free ice cream.

It is obvious the country hasn't secured or produced 10, 20, 30mil  or any significant amount of AZ or any other vaccine.

 

Well done Khun Prayut Chan O Cha,  a good decision. 

[mickyr55]

All this flip flopping and continual reversing of vaccination plans is not only confusing it looks like they have no vaccine at all, think that the whole of Thailand's supply has been sent to Phuket to enable the 1st of July opening so they can at least get one thing achieved. 

[robblok]

7 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

Surely the reality is that the PM/Thailand should welcome massive numbers of folks turning up at walk-ins.

 

The reality is that they should have plans in place to cope with massive numbers, which is possible, many examples across the world of highly successful giant walk in centres.

 

If planned well it could also include the technology to record who has been jabbed and a technology based instant vaccine certificate.

 

Supply of vaccine is of course a problem, but the news seems to indictae there should be massive amounts of serum available/on the horizon include local manufacture.

 

But that is just it like the rice program of YL lots of talk and promises but the reality is really different. I think there is just not enough and he is trying to hide the failings of the government. Its so standard of Thai governments, lots of promises big numbers but that all on paper. The reality is that its just not there. But by admitting that he would admit that he failed. That is not going to happen.

[BobBKK]

Just now, robblok said:

But that is just it like the rice program of YL lots of talk and promises but the reality is really different. I think there is just not enough and he is trying to hide the failings of the government. Its so standard of Thai governments, lots of promises big numbers but that all on paper. The reality is that its just not there. But by admitting that he would admit that he failed. That is not going to happen.

 

Yes Yingluck was innocent after all that so the election was even more unjustified lies. That injustice aside this guy is completely useless.

[BobBKK]

4 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Until they have adequate supply ....  walk-in centres would be useless, what are they going to give them, a free ice cream.

It is obvious the country hasn't secured or produced 10, 20, 30mil  or any significant amount of AZ or any other vaccine.

 

Well done Khun Prayut Chan O Cha,  a good decision. 

 

Pathetic - you admit he failed than say 'well done'.