1. #10176
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    Thailand's vaccine failures anger Prayuth's business support base

    PM reverts to strongman politics, facing corporate and professional discontent


    BANGKOK -- When the coronavirus threatened to spread across Thailand a year ago, Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul shocked the country's doctors by scoffing at warnings and describing the deadly COVID-19 as "a common cold."

    Now, the medical profession is striking back.

    A group called Mor Mai Thon ("Doctors won't tolerate this") has started an online campaign for the dismissal of Anutin, leader of the Bhumjaithai Party, the second-largest member of the ruling coalition.

    This push, which comes as Thailand struggles to contain a third wave of the pandemic and vaccinate the population, has touched a nerve. The organizers' petition collected over 200,000 signatures in just a few days after it was posted on Change.org.

    In the process, the doctors put Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on notice. Prayuth had been assured of support from the country's professional middle class since May 2014, when he staged a coup as the then-army chief to oust an elected government.

    Another influential constituency Prayuth has counted on for similar support also is showing frustration: the corporate sector. Hope for an economic recovery is sinking in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy following a 6.1% contraction last year. Among the worst hit sectors is tourism, which was a main driver of the economy before the pandemic struck, accounting for around 20% of Thailand's gross domestic product.

    Business leaders see Thailand as a laggard in vaccination compared with its Southeast Asian neighbors. The Thai Chamber of Commerce, a network of commerce and industry heavyweights, has not minced words as frustration boiled to the surface in March.

    "Thailand is slow in distributing vaccines," an official from the chamber told local media around the end of that month. "This will result in a slow economic recovery."

    Harsher words were delivered at the time by prominent business leaders from the tourism sector known for being Prayuth's allies since the 2014 putsch. "The government has failed to inspire the public to take the vaccine, and left them with negative feelings towards the vaccine," complained William Heinecke, founder and chairman of Minor International, a big hotel operator. "We will lose tourism trade to Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore because they have more efficient vaccination programs."

    To pick up the pace, the chamber offered to provide the government with logistical support, including cold storage facilities and transportation of vaccines. Private hospitals wanted to step in, offering to secure their own supply of vaccines for distribution, but have been held back by health ministry red tape.

    And as Thailand's vaccine rollout continues at a snail's pace, the mood in Thailand's corporate world has soured, prompting some analysts to say that Thai businesses -- large or medium-sized -- will not give unconditional support to the country's political leaders.

    Executives at mid-size companies on the Thai stock exchange say "the government is not doing enough, and the new COVID outbreak is due to a failure of governance," according to a Thai financial insider. "They don't mind corruption and cronyism existing as part of Thailand, but not when so much is at stake."

    Similar sentiments are rumbling through larger Thai boardrooms, said Suwat Sinsadok, managing director of Bangkok business consultancy FSS International Investment Advisory Securities.

    "They are aware that complacency and corruption will remain in the country even as the economy grows, but if the economy doesn't grow and people keep dying due to COVID, then you will see anger," he told Nikkei Asia. "There is a growing view that the military-style leadership that the prime minister is familiar with is not working this time."

    A recent assessment by The Economist supports this anxiety. The British publication placed Thailand 124th out of 154 countries in the percentage of adults who had received the first dose of a vaccine -- a mere 0.4%. The nation's spreading third wave of COVID-19 has produced over 180 fatalities and lifted the total caseload to 63,570, a spike from the 26,031 cases recorded by the beginning of March.

    Thailand's vaccine failures anger Prayuth's business support base -
    Nikkei Asia

  2. #10177
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    ^ Won't make the slightest bit of difference unfortunately.

  3. #10178
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    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    First batch of Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 jabs delivered to India
    I wonder if it's the shit Brazil sent back.

  4. #10179
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...it will soon be time to start shunning those in the US who refuse to be vaccinated: no flights, no public ground transport, no movie theaters, no restaurants (except drive-thrus and home delivery), no cruises, no access to Disney theme parks, no bars, etc without a verifiable document that indicates appropriate, up-to-date shots...there have to be consequences for anti-social behavior that may endanger others. Those governors who refuse to institute such measures may be refused federal health assistance, airlines and buses might refuse to enter those states, etc...law suits? Of course. Brand these folks as child abusers (health endangerment), public menaces or simply bloody-minded luddites...let them feel the shame of social pressure until they bare their arms...
    Good post, this should be the obvious conclusion to kick the asses of the anti Vaccine mob worldwide. They will have to accept that their stupidity has consequences.

  5. #10180
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    I wonder if it's the shit Brazil sent back.
    Brazil should learn at last that what they are allowed to buy is not up to them, similarly, as the Germans learn about the Nord Stream 2 gaspipe...

    U.S. pressured Brazil to ditch Russia's Sputnik V vaccine
    U.S. pressured Brazil to ditch Russia's Sputnik V vaccine


    Why not to send it to Brazil? (similarly, like the Germans will get another gas...)
    The U.S. Is Sitting on Tens of Millions of Vaccine Doses the World Needs
    WASHINGTON — Tens of millions of doses of the coronavirus vaccine made by the British-Swedish company AstraZeneca are sitting idly in American manufacturing facilities, awaiting results from its U.S. clinical trial while countries that have authorized its use beg for access.
    The U.S. Is Sitting on Tens of Millions of Vaccine Doses the World Needs - The New York Times

  6. #10181
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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  7. #10182
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    ^ Vaccinations Kit, just have to deal with he variants God help us. The suggestion is that in the UK we will still have distancing and masks even when inoculated.

  8. #10183
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by strigils View Post
    ^ Vaccinations Kit, just have to deal with he variants God help us. The suggestion is that in the UK we will still have distancing and masks even when inoculated.
    Until herd immunity is reached.


    Be grateful. Imagine getting Russian shit made in Chinastan!



    TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Russia is turning to multiple Chinese firms to manufacture the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in an effort to speed up production as demand soars for its shot.
    Russia has announced three deals totaling 260 million doses with Chinese vaccine companies in recent weeks.
    Russia turns to China to make Sputnik shots to meet demand

  9. #10184
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    Quote Originally Posted by OhOh View Post
    China supplied nearly 400 tonnes of coronavirus-related medical supplies including RT-PCR test kits, Rapid Antibody Tests, PPE kits and thermometers, said Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday adding that 20 more flights are expected to bring more supplies from China in the coming days.
    That's a heap of "coronavirus-related equipment"

    You can bet there's a vigourous black market in cities spanning the nation.

    And that's just the Chinese supplies.

  10. #10185
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by harrybarracuda View Post
    Imagine getting Russian shit made in Chinastan!
    From that link:

    Earlier criticism about Russia’s vaccine have been largely quieted by data published in the British medical journal The Lancet that said large-scale testing showed it to be safe, with an efficacy rate of 91%.
    The facts don't seem to be quite as you'd like.

  11. #10186
    Thailand Expat russellsimpson's Avatar
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    My understand was that herd immunity kicked in only at a 70-75 percent vaccination rate?

    The USA is still far from that. Vaccine hesitancy is seriously on the uptick in N.A., particularly people not showing up for the booster shot.

    It seems to me that the pandemic is subsiding fairly quickly, there seems to be general agreement on that.

    I believe it may go the way of the Spanish flu any week now.
    A true diplomat is a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a manner that you will be asking for directions.

  12. #10187
    Thailand Expat russellsimpson's Avatar
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    And all this American vaccines good, Russian and Chinese vaccine velly, velly bad.

    Enough all fucking ready.

    Give me a fucking break eh

    .

  13. #10188
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by russellsimpson View Post
    Give me a fucking break eh
    ...not until you stop getting your news from the Winnipeg Daily Plow...

  14. #10189
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    ...5 farangs I know here are leaving for the States this month specifically to get the Covid vaccinations they prefer...with quarantines and waits between shots, they all expect to stay at their various locations for 3-5 weeks before returning. SD reports that a few in his circle (all Thais) have already been to the States, received vaccinations and returned. An expensive way to relieve frustration and a vote of no-confidence in the local government's ability to plan and implement a mass vaccination program...
    Majestically enthroned amid the vulgar herd

  15. #10190
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    Quote Originally Posted by strigils View Post
    ^ Vaccinations Kit, just have to deal with he variants God help us. The suggestion is that in the UK we will still have distancing and masks even when inoculated.
    The problem with not wearing masks, or socially distancing if vaccinated in general settings , is that how do you identify in the street who is vaccinated or not. What do you do? Do you wear a big scarlet I on your chest? or when you see someone entering the supermarket do you say "hey buddy, let me see your vaccine passport"? I can see in special venues where only vaccinated people can enter with entrance controls, but in general settings it is simply not workable.
    The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.

  16. #10191
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai View Post
    What do you do?
    ...if you are in the open and fellow pedestrians (and you) are masked, you're fine...

  17. #10192
    Thailand Expat YourDaddy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shutree View Post

    Executives at mid-size companies on the Thai stock exchange say "the government is not doing enough, and the new COVID outbreak is due to a failure of governance," according to a Thai financial insider. "They don't mind corruption and cronyism existing as part of Thailand, but not when so much is at stake."

    Choke and die

  18. #10193
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...if you are in the open and fellow pedestrians (and you) are masked, you're fine...
    Sure, I understand that and I agree. I was just truing to make the point in reaction to "why should Vaccinated people wear masks and socially distance" . and my point is that it would be difficult to ascertain who is and who is not vaccinated, without draconian measures, and that there would be many unvaccinated people gaming the system, pretending that they were vaccinated.
    In controlled venues you can allow vaccinated people certain privilege's, but in general it would be difficult to enforce IMO .

  19. #10194
    Thailand Expat tomcat's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai View Post
    In controlled venues you can allow vaccinated people certain privilege's, but in general it would be difficult to enforce IMO .
    ...that's where verifiable vaccination certificates come in...some folks need to be shunned, shamed and denied entry to closed venues before they'll comply with common sense...so be it...

  20. #10195
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    Quote Originally Posted by tomcat View Post
    ...that's where verifiable vaccination certificates come in...some folks need to be shunned, shamed and denied entry to closed venues before they'll comply with common sense...so be it...
    yes indeed, I am all for vaccine passports, and for shaming these anti-vaxxer morons. we should be done trying to reason with them, if they were reasonable they would not be the idiots they are.
    They should indeed be excluded from closed venues, or perhaps relegated to areas all by themselves, where they can all stew in their stupidity.

  21. #10196
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    oh oh you are losing it. Get a grip.

  22. #10197
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    Quote Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai View Post
    The problem with not wearing masks, or socially distancing if vaccinated in general settings , is that how do you identify in the street who is vaccinated or not.
    My point real was that masks and social distancing appear likely as the new social norm for the forseeable.

  23. #10198
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    Quote Originally Posted by strigils View Post
    My point real was that masks and social distancing appear likely as the new social norm for the forseeable.
    Your point would be more apparent if you did not cover it with that silly hat you wear , Poindexter. LOL

  24. #10199
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    ^ ... is the translocation still going ahead?

  25. #10200
    Thailand Expat misskit's Avatar
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    Nepal appeals for COVID-19 vaccines as cases rise

    Nepal urgently needs at least 1.6 million AstraZeneca's (AZN.L) COVID-19 vaccine doses to administer second shots as the Himalayan country is recording a surge in new coronavirus cases.


    "People who have already got the first dose will be in difficulty if they don't receive their second dose within the stipulated time," said Samir Adhikari, a senior official of the Ministry of Health and Population in capital Kathmandu.


    On Monday, Prime Minister K.P.Sharma Oli urged foreign donors to supply vaccines and critical care medicines to prevent a collapse of the small country's creaky health infrastructure.

    MORE Nepal appeals for COVID-19 vaccines as cases rise | Reuters



    Poor Nepal. I despair.

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