Phuket Reports

[Achmmc]

Thaiger saying "fat chance" re Phuket reopening. If nothing else, this is a decent reality check and posses a number of good, unanswered questions. Can't see doing this.

https://youtu.be/WbYJOGEgjAE

[Banana Boi]

Hopefully, it's due to their fear of the China vaxx. Looks like Thailand's vaxx options will be opening up soon. Moderna's supposed to be approved this week.

Moderna painfully slow in getting approved but the much bigger question is where are they currently going to get Moderna vaccines? Even some the G8 countries are currently having issues getting Moderna supply.

Bit Siri.

[SinfullyKorean]

A few days ago a BKK nurse friend got the Sinovac vaccine, she said all hospital staff with direct patient contact were getting the vaccine. She also said that many Thai people don't want it. I called some other non-P4P girls (Phuket, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Bangkok) and it seems that many Thai people don't want the vaccine. Some don't want the China vaccine and will wait for a different vaccine while others will skip it all together. If Phuket doesn't have 70% willing people, it won't be possible to reach that threshold by July.

Hopefully, it's due to their fear of the China vaxx. Looks like Thailand's vaxx options will be opening up soon. Moderna's supposed to be approved this week. Astrazeneca just passed QA and is expected to become Thailand's premier vaxx source, with first batch being delivered in June. They're also trying to get the Pfizer shots by July.

But you're right. They're on a good track to reach 70% immunity, IF they're able to keep at the same vaxx rate, IF people are willing/wanting to get vaxx'd.

[HorseTrader]

The article you linked says Phuket's 22% FULLY vaccinated. This is a really positive sign. Vaccination efforts usually take some time to ramp up. Phuket only started vaccinating in early April. So if they stay on track (they'll probably speed up, actually), they're on pace to be fully vaccinated by or close to July 1.

A few days ago a BKK nurse friend got the Sinovac vaccine, she said all hospital staff with direct patient contact were getting the vaccine. She also said that many Thai people don't want it. I called some other non-P4P girls (Phuket, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Bangkok) and it seems that many Thai people don't want the vaccine. Some don't want the China vaccine and will wait for a different vaccine while others will skip it all together. If Phuket doesn't have 70% willing people, it won't be possible to reach that threshold by July.

[StudBucket]

The article you linked says Phuket's 22% FULLY vaccinated. This is a really positive sign. Vaccination efforts usually take some time to ramp up. Phuket only started vaccinating in early April. So if they stay on track (they'll probably speed up, actually), they're on pace to be fully vaccinated by or close to July 1.

That said, Thailand has been reacting fast to the COVID situation, so I wouldn't be surprised if they delayed Phuket's sandbox plans. Let's hope not.

This is good information SK, I actually was not aware they just started vaccinating this month. So you are correct, they are on a good pace. This is a great observation.

[SinfullyKorean]

I agree that we should wait and see as the Thai government have been notorius for changing their minds and pushing dates back, but what is interesting is that the announcement came just a few days ago and at this time they knew about the delays, slowdown etc. I guess with the current numbers at only 20% of the Phuket population being vaccinated, there will be a delay in the reopening.

The article you linked says Phuket's 22% FULLY vaccinated. This is a really positive sign. Vaccination efforts usually take some time to ramp up. Phuket only started vaccinating in early April. So if they stay on track (they'll probably speed up, actually), they're on pace to be fully vaccinated by or close to July 1.

That said, Thailand has been reacting fast to the COVID situation, so I wouldn't be surprised if they delayed Phuket's sandbox plans. Let's hope not.

[StudBucket]

Sounds good, but anothe zinger not mentioned in the article is that vaccinations in Phuket are now stalled. Don't know why or how long that will last, but they need 70% before opening.

Even after Phuket (and other places) are reopened there could be another flip flop that quarantines you or closes all the activities that interest you.

I agree that we should wait and see as the Thai government have been notorius for changing their minds and pushing dates back, but what is interesting is that the announcement came just a few days ago and at this time they knew about the delays, slowdown etc. I guess with the current numbers at only 20% of the Phuket population being vaccinated, there will be a delay in the reopening.

[HorseTrader]

Flip flop, only believe it when you see it. Look at what they are doing now. Not what was said would be done and then they screwed up everything by letting songkran happen.

Sounds good, but anothe zinger not mentioned in the article is that vaccinations in Phuket are now stalled. Don't know why or how long that will last, but they need 70% before opening.

Even after Phuket (and other places) are reopened there could be another flip flop that quarantines you or closes all the activities that interest you.

[TConor]

Hello guys,

It looks like Phuket will definitely be opening July 1. Although July to October can be wet months (rainy), for anyone wanting to monger in Thailand, Phuket. There are definitely spots open such as the mega nightclub Illuzion Phuket and the more popular go go bars. So, all we need is for Pattaya to open by early next year and it will be perfect.

The article states:

"The national tourism panel met Friday and affirmed the timetable for Phuket to be back in business on July 1, when the mandatory two-week quarantine will be dropped for vaccinated visitors, according to government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul. The committee also endorsed Oct. 1 openings for nine other popular destinations, including Bangkok and Chiang Mai, with restrictions eased in the rest of Thailand in January, she said. ".

Here is the article source quoting this:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...hai-covid-wave

Flip flop, only believe it when you see it. Look at what they are doing now. Not what was said would be done and then they screwed up everything by letting songkran happen.

[StudBucket]

Hello guys,

It looks like Phuket will definitely be opening July 1. Although July to October can be wet months (rainy), for anyone wanting to monger in Thailand, Phuket. There are definitely spots open such as the mega nightclub Illuzion Phuket and the more popular go go bars. So, all we need is for Pattaya to open by early next year and it will be perfect.

The article states:

"The national tourism panel met Friday and affirmed the timetable for Phuket to be back in business on July 1, when the mandatory two-week quarantine will be dropped for vaccinated visitors, according to government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul. The committee also endorsed Oct. 1 openings for nine other popular destinations, including Bangkok and Chiang Mai, with restrictions eased in the rest of Thailand in January, she said. ".

Here is the article source quoting this:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...hai-covid-wave

[Mothra]

Is there anywhere like Bangkok's Thermae in Phuket?

At the moment there is nothing in Phuket like Thermae that I am aware of. Bangka road. Now closed due to the latest COVID outbreak. Has a few bars where you can find FL after midnight but there isn't any single place where I've seen a critical mass like Thermae.

[Almond812]

Is there anywhere like Bangkok's Thermae in Phuket?

[Jsxyz]

The early articles regarding the suggested sandbox rules stated that your vaccine must be newer than 90 days. I read that in multiple articles. The more recent articles that I've seen haven't mentioned anything about how new your vaccine should be.

I don't remember exact location where I read the 90 day limit, I tend to look at BangkokPost, PattayaNews, and TheThaiger. I am skeptical of everything I read in those publications.

Helpful, thanks!

[HorseTrader]

I was asking for a link which states (or even merely suggests) that the proposed Thai policy would have a requirement that vaccines be within 90 days.

The early articles regarding the suggested sandbox rules stated that your vaccine must be newer than 90 days. I read that in multiple articles. The more recent articles that I've seen haven't mentioned anything about how new your vaccine should be.

I don't remember exact location where I read the 90 day limit, I tend to look at BangkokPost, PattayaNews, and TheThaiger. I am skeptical of everything I read in those publications.

[SinfullyKorean]

I was asking for a link which states (or even merely suggests) that the proposed Thai policy would have a requirement that vaccines be within 90 days.

The article you linked is about general CDC quarantine suggestions. And BTW it explicitly states that the science is as yet undetermined.

Yes, that's the point I'm trying to make. Nobody's saying the vaccine's ineffective after 90 days. They're saying it's safe for AT LEAST 90 days. It means they have strong data to suggest that people who are vaccinated are safe for at least 90 days. Why 90 days? Because that's what the study was for in order to get the vaccine authorized for emergency use ASAP. We all assume it's good for probably about a year, but there's been no study done to prove that.

Which is why the link Run Mann posted is highly encouraging.

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective for at least 6 months and protects against South Africa variant.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...dy/4830501001/

As time goes on, I hope they keep revising / increasing the efficacy duration of the vaccines.