Pattaya: Utter chaos at vaccine center as arguments break out about who came first

[webfact]

Picture: Sanook

 

Sanook reported after a Twitter video showed chaos and a lack of social distancing at a vaccine center in Pattaya.

 

The media said that large numbers of unregistered walk-ins arrived from 5 am expecting to be vaccinated. 

 

There wasn't a proper system and when 8 am came arguments broke out about who came first.

 

Pharadee Pheuaksopha, a Bang Lamung official, admitted that walk-ins had to be abandoned until later.

 

This appeared to be the first day of vaccination, already reported by Sophon Cable TV and translated by Thaivisa. That was at the eastern seaboard sports stadium.

 

People were told to come back at 3pm to ease the congestion. 

 

Sanook said there were 250 who had registered and 250 who arrived unannounced. 

 

50 jabs could be done per hour and many people were accommodated later in the day. 

 

Sanook called it a "drama in Pattaya". 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-05-22

 

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[Kerryd]

I had some friends (and their wives) go there yesterday and there wasn't any problems. They all got jabbed and their letter telling them when/where they'll get their 2nd shot.

[Dmaxdan]

I've long suspected that Thais don't really understand the principle of queuing, not from a western perspective anyway.

 

And patience can be a rare commodity here.

 

[champers]

50 jabs an hour isn't many. Is there a shortage of qualified staff?

[Sticky Rice Balls]

Imagine if it was full of hiso chinese---got nothing on a shrimp buffet......women and children first!

[law ling]

Teething problems I see.

 

Didn't they get some experience already on how to do this (from the 2% already vaxed) ... or does every new vaxxing center just start from scratch and work it out as they go, by trial and error.

[Surelynot]

52 minutes ago, champers said:

50 jabs an hour isn't many. Is there a shortage of qualified staff?

I think there is, or will be, a serious shortage of vaccines.........so the plan is to inject at incredibly low rates so the process is seen to be functioning........so it never runs short.......optics!!!

[Surelynot]

1 hour ago, champers said:

50 jabs an hour isn't many. Is there a shortage of qualified staff?

Slow and steady....they are fearful of running out.

[KhunBENQ]

Did they ever hear about queue tickets spit from a simple device?

Ask immigration.

[Surelynot]

Just now, KhunBENQ said:

Did they ever hear about queue tickets spit from a simple device?

Ask immigration.

I am confused now.......I thought walk-ins were not an option anymore........you have to register onsite.......a glorious opportunity to waste time and spread the virus even further......and then return for your jab.......another opportunity to spread the virus.

[Surelynot]

On site registration could turn out to be one of the biggest spreaders of the virus yet..........surely someone, somewhere, can develop an app that works?

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, champers said:

50 jabs an hour isn't many. Is there a shortage of qualified staff?

More to the point , you could be waiting 10 hours if 250 and then an extra 250 turn up

[Pedrogaz]

Chaos: an appropriate word to describe the COVID situation in Thailand. I have never seen such government incompetence. Her's a tip: agree a plan before making any more announcements.

[Wiggy]

I’ve always wondered why Thailand isn’t more prominent in the world of rugby; they seem very good at scrummaging. 

[Emdog]

"Utter chaos" is the government's "comfort zone".

[rasmus5150]

1 hour ago, Pedrogaz said:

I have never seen such government incompetence.

I bet you've never been to Africa......

[Surelynot]

Just now, rasmus5150 said:

I bet you've never been to Africa......

...or the UK

[jacko45k]

4 hours ago, champers said:

50 jabs an hour isn't many. Is there a shortage of qualified staff?

You might expect  a single skilled person to manage one a minute!

[DefaultName]

2 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

You might expect  a single skilled person to manage one a minute!

5 seconds for the jab, 55 for the half-tree of paperwork.  That makes 555.

[mlmcleod]

Only 50 an hour vaccinated?  That is ridiculous.  I guess there is only one station giving shots.  I remember seeing thousands vaccinated for the flu shot in the USA with only 4 stations.  I sincerely doubt that the issue is a lack of medical personnel.  After all, Thailand is supposed to be a medical hub!  It should not take more than 30 seconds to get a jab!  Of course, there is the huge pile of bureaucracy to deal with first!!

[Rookiescot]

6 hours ago, Dmaxdan said:

I've long suspected that Thais don't really understand the principle of queuing, not from a western perspective anyway.

 

And patience can be a rare commodity here.

 

 

I spent a number of years living in Germany. If there is a nation which does not understand the concept of a queue then its Germans.

[Petey11]

50 an hour, need to speed that up. Went for my 2nd jab the other day at my local community hospital. Time slots were open from 11am to 5pm, 6hr operation time. I chose 4.20pm and my sheet ref number was 545, and whole process took about 20-25mins. When my 15min wait was up they calling out in the 600's. Over 100 an hour just in a small vaccination centre, so shows what can be achieved with good organisation.

[Randell jones]

6 hours ago, champers said:

50 jabs an hour isn't many. Is there a shortage of qualified staff?

They only brought 2 syringes with them.

[lavender19]

7 hours ago, champers said:

50 jabs an hour isn't many. Is there a shortage of qualified staff?

No just shortage of jabs. 

[Bangkok Barry]

7 hours ago, Surelynot said:

I am confused now.......I thought walk-ins were not an option anymore........you have to register onsite.......a glorious opportunity to waste time and spread the virus even further......and then return for your jab.......another opportunity to spread the virus.

You are correct. The PM banned them, but who takes any notice?

[Bundooman]

10 hours ago, champers said:

50 jabs an hour isn't many. Is there a shortage of qualified staff?

That equates to one person, working for 1 hour...............................per day!

[BritManToo]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

50 jabs could be done per hour and many people were accommodated later in the day. 

4 nurses or less, must have been a staff shortage.

[Leaver]

10 hours ago, champers said:

50 jabs an hour isn't many. Is there a shortage of qualified staff?

 

There's a shortage of everything, except people needing to be vaccinated.  There's about 45 million of them.  

[Damrongsak]

The place I got mine in the US was doing about 1,000 shots a day with maybe 6 or 8 stations.  It was by appointment with a narrow time window.  My second shot took about 1/2 hour, including time to park and a 15 minute wait after the shot to see if I had a reaction.  First shot took longer.

 

Now I could book a shot 3 hours from now at a local grocery store pharmacy and possibly walk in.  It has taken about 5 months to get to this level.  What next?  Maybe they will put a nurse in the back of UPS/FedEx/Amazon delivery trucks and let you order on-line.  

 

[MrJ2U]

I can't see Thailand organizing huge vaccine centers without more of these problems.  The place is one large petri dish.