General Reports

[GettingFedUp]

This does not seem too expensive. For travelers from high risk countries that's only 135 baht per day. Even if you buy a 90-day policy but only stay 30 days, its just 405 baht per day. If that covers my hospital bill for a false positive COVID test, I'm happy to have paid the money.

Other durations are available and from a quick glance the premiums seem roughly pro rata to duration so a 30 day policy from high risk countries is just under THB 5,000 and 60 days THB 8,600.

[GettingFedUp]

In the Bangkok Post today, it was reported today that a consortium of Thai tourism industry organizations recommended that Thailand open to tourists beginning July 1st as long as the tourists have proof of vaccination cards, a Covid test within 72 hours of departure, and international health insurance.

Thomasb,

This is another in a long line of proposals or recommendations from the tourism industry. They come up with a new one or rehashed previous one every month or so (remember the "Island Isolation" of Phuket, "Covid Corridors", bubbles and cuts in quarantine time.). So far the only ones that have gone through are Golf Quarantine which after months of debate has clocked up it's first visitors (about 30 of them) and a charter flight of assorted very wealthy people who rented an entire hotel at Cape Panwa, Phuket to serve their quarantine there rather than at an ASQ hotel.

Come 1st July less than half of the population will have had access to the vaccine even if the current timetable can be met. My view is the Government will continue with its hawkish view that the risk is not worth the rewards (and they and their cronies aren't big in tourism. They make their ill-gotten gains from other sectors such as infrastructure projects).

[HorseTrader]

With regard to the Covid specific insurance the Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) has a web-portal where you can obtain a quote for it. Premiums for 90 days cover currently vary from THB 3,840 for "low risk" (my term) countries such as Australia to THB 12,160 for "high risk" countries (USA, UK, France etc.).

This does not seem too expensive. For travelers from high risk countries that's only 135 baht per day. Even if you buy a 90-day policy but only stay 30 days, its just 405 baht per day. If that covers my hospital bill for a false positive COVID test, I'm happy to have paid the money.

[GettingFedUp]

On international health insurance-- it depends what they'll accept for that in this case, there are a lot of travel insurance services out there that have some pretty damn cheap rates for travel health insurance.

The insurance requirement is for $100,000 of cover specifically for Covid. For "normal" health insurance policies as ever with Thai bureaucracy interpretation and enforcement seems to vary between Embassies and Consulates but the general principle is that the policy wording must explicitly state that this cover is included (so a lack of exclusion of Covid is not sufficient). I have heard tell of some missions accepting a letter from the insurer stating the cover is included although not specifically mentioned in the policy wording, others not doing so.

One nasty little catch-22 with using blanket health insurance for the Covid cover is if someone tests positive but is asymptomatic. In Thailand if you test positive you are going to hospital even if asymptomatic. That's just the way it is. Where there is a hospital there is inevitably a hospital bill. There are reports of international insurers refusing claims with the thought process of "If you didn't have symptoms then you didn't need hospitalization" leaving the unfortunate policy holder out of pocket.

With regard to the Covid specific insurance the Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) has a web-portal where you can obtain a quote for it. Premiums for 90 days cover currently vary from THB 3,840 for "low risk" (my term) countries such as Australia to THB 12,160 for "high risk" countries (USA, UK, France etc.). For other countries you can look it up for yourselves. Hopefully as infection rates come under control in the outside world then countries will be reclassified into the lower premium levels. No, I am not on commission from them.

[GrapeMan]

In the Bangkok Post today, it was reported today that a consortium of Thai tourism industry organizations recommended that Thailand open to tourists beginning July 1st as long as the tourists have proof of vaccination cards, a Covid test within 72 hours of departure, and international health insurance.

For what it's worth, these international insurance premiums can be pretty high, albeit you only need it for the length of your stay. However, many of us travel to international destinations without any health insurance as our domestic policies generally do not cover international hospital visits, drugs, etc. If an unfortunate health event occurs, it can have devastating financial consequences so perhaps making sure you have adequate coverage is a good idea for all circumstances, not only Covid. The biggest cost can be a situation requiring that you return to your home country for treatment. These medivac transfer costs are enormous.

Great news on this! Hoping it works out!

On international health insurance-- it depends what they'll accept for that in this case, there are a lot of travel insurance services out there that have some pretty damn cheap rates for travel health insurance (which is sometimes part of a bigger package of insurance), its actually a good pickup for many people doing travel since the cost is often pretty low especially compared to if anything happens to you. I generally buy an inexpensive travel health insurance when I go abroad for a longer period, just not worth the hassle of not having it.

[Tomasb]

In the Bangkok Post today, it was reported today that a consortium of Thai tourism industry organizations recommended that Thailand open to tourists beginning July 1st as long as the tourists have proof of vaccination cards, a Covid test within 72 hours of departure, and international health insurance.

For what it's worth, these international insurance premiums can be pretty high, albeit you only need it for the length of your stay. However, many of us travel to international destinations without any health insurance as our domestic policies generally do not cover international hospital visits, drugs, etc. If an unfortunate health event occurs, it can have devastating financial consequences so perhaps making sure you have adequate coverage is a good idea for all circumstances, not only Covid. The biggest cost can be a situation requiring that you return to your home country for treatment. These medivac transfer costs are enormous.

[PinkPearl]

France, Italy and Germany decided that despite being approved in Europe that there was insufficient data for the vaccines effectiveness for the over 65's, well that's changed with studies coming out from Scotland showing that the AZ vaccine had reduced hospitalisations by 94% in general and 81% for the 80+. So now they have to backtrack and that's going to take time and this has damaged confidence in the vaccination program. Survey's from 6 months ago showed that the french were reluctant to be vaccinated no matter how effective they were proved to be.

Mutations have to be monitored to see what effect they have, some will weaken the virus and others strenghen it, it's been found time and again that some mutations will stop a virus from causing illness and many have faded away due to mutations. A small number (out of 6,000) recent covid19 mutations are worrisome as they are more infectious spread faster but cause the same level of illness not make it worse. Oxford and others have stated that they can modifiy their vaccine to counteract this and are currently lab testing this.

Thanks for sharing.

There has been some very positive news coming out recently re vaccinations. In my area health experts have expressed optimism for a return to normal there by this summer:

"By the time we get to the summer, we're going to be in a different place. In the coming months, we're going to be able to do all those things that we have been missing for the last year," Henry said Tuesday."

https://globalnews.ca/news/7668751/c...llout-phase-2/

"BC accelerates timeline for first vaccine doses.

All eligible adults should get 1st dose by end July; over-80's, Indigenous people over 65 can book this month.

Also on Monday, the province announced it is extending the time between first and second doses of COVID-19 vaccine to four months. The change, as well as Health Canada's approval of a third vaccine, means every eligible person in BC will receive the first dose of their vaccine by mid- to late July.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said data from the BC Centre for Disease Control and countries around the world such as the United Kingdom and New Zealand shows "miraculous" protection of at least 90 per cent from the first dose of a Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

She said the National Advisory Committee on Immunization is expected to issue a statement to align with BC's decision, which frees up 70,000 doses for younger age groups.

"This is amazing news," said Henry. "These vaccines work, they give a very high level of protection and that protection lasts for many months."

"This gives us a very real and important benefit to everybody here in BC," Henry added. "That means we can move everybody up the list and more people will be protected sooner."

The newly authorized AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine will also accelerate BC's overall vaccine timeline, possibly bumping front-line workers up the queue. The province expects to receive its first shipment likely 60,000 doses on the week of March 9.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...ovid-1.5931543

Hopefully Thailand will be making things much easier for tourists to visit the Land Of Smiles before the end of 2021.

[Turgid]

The French and Germans are not happy with the oxford jab so are not using them up and lie unused.

They're not 100% reliable, and guys who have had jabs of Pfizer have died. And not enough is known about mutations on jabs, no doubt LOS will become a hub of mutations eventually due to all the inbound tourists from everywhere.

Maybe the immunity hasn't built up over many months.

34% of Germans say they do not want to be vaccinated.

[Turgid]

One got to wonder what these so called vaccines are effective for except probably for changing our DNA.

Your DNA has already been changed. Eating GMO foods changes your DNA. Most Americans eat GMO foods on a regular basis. Many in Latin America and the Far East too.

[HorseTrader]

Yeah, guys, people are going nuts complaining about effectiveness.

The chunky 45 year old freelancer with shitty attitude can get your rocks off, but not too many punters want her when there is a 25 year old hottie with great attitude just a few feet away. The 65% vaccine can help you and our society if everybody gets it, but not too many people want it when a 95% vaccine is available.

[GrapeMan]

No vaccine is ever 100% effective, most are approved if found to have an effectiveness greater than 50% and you can see the reports that these are a lot better. There is a very clear indication here that these vaccines almost eliminate deaths in a large population, reduce the severity of illness and reduce the transmission.

Yeah, guys, people are going nuts complaining about effectiveness.

Early vaccines are often 50% efficacy and the belief was that if we got our first covid vaccines at that rate it would be awesome and sufficient to get everything back to normal and stop the spread. 70% was a big goal but they didn't think they'd get there for a bit. Then the first two vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer) were an incredibly bonkers 95% and no deaths. Like, that's wild. Blew every expectation out of the water. The J&J which was just approved in the US is at least 70%, no deaths and no hospitalizations, and the Astrazenca one is around there too but seems it may need further evaluation. Even the Russian made one is thought to be close to 70% or so (although it looks like this one needs a lot more research and they have supply issues).

[Paolo99]

Elderly people should not kiss their grandchildren even if they have received a second dose of a coronavirus vaccine, an expert claimed today.

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee of Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI), said it may not be safe to break social-distancing rules even after having two doses.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Professor Harnden was asked by a listener whether he was allowed to kiss his school-age grandchildren, with the JCVI deputy chair replying: "no".

"You need to be really careful and remember that even after the second dose of vaccine it's not necessarily 100 per cent effective," he said.

"At the moment, we still need to be cautious and obey the rules and I don't think kissing grandchildren is allowed".

Professor Harnden added that while the vaccine offers protection against severe disease, how much protection it offers overall still remains unknown.

"Well it'll offer you very good protection against severe disease and hospitalization but we don't know yet how much protection it'll offer against asymptomatic infections," he said.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/vaccine-ex...110237435.html

One got to wonder what these so called vaccines are effective for except probably for changing our DNA.

[Downandup]

The French and Germans are not happy with the oxford jab so are not using them up and lie unused.

They're not 100% reliable, and guys who have had jabs of Pfizer have died. And not enough is known about mutations on jabs, no doubt LOS will become a hub of mutations eventually due to all the inbound tourists from everywhere.

Maybe the immunity hasn't built up over many months.

France, Italy and Germany decided that despite being approved in Europe that there was insufficient data for the vaccines effectiveness for the over 65's, well that's changed with studies coming out from Scotland showing that the AZ vaccine had reduced hospitalisations by 94% in general and 81% for the 80+. So now they have to backtrack and that's going to take time and this has damaged confidence in the vaccination program. Survey's from 6 months ago showed that the french were reluctant to be vaccinated no matter how effective they were proved to be.

Mutations have to be monitored to see what effect they have, some will weaken the virus and others strenghen it, it's been found time and again that some mutations will stop a virus from causing illness and many have faded away due to mutations. A small number (out of 6,000) recent covid19 mutations are worrisome as they are more infectious spread faster but cause the same level of illness not make it worse. Oxford and others have stated that they can modifiy their vaccine to counteract this and are currently lab testing this.

No vaccine is ever 100% effective, most are approved if found to have an effectiveness greater than 50% and you can see the reports that these are a lot better. There is a very clear indication here that these vaccines almost eliminate deaths in a large population, reduce the severity of illness and reduce the transmission.

[HorseTrader]

There is a study in Israel and two more from the UK that are currently undergoing peer review and all show that the vaccines do reduce transmission.

That's the best news possible!

Even if Thailand immediately allowed vaccinated tourists to return without restrictions, it will take time before the network of hotels, restaurants, tours, transportation and other tourism support can be revived. Then there is time required for the tourists to get vaccinated. Not to mention that most of us won't want to return until many of our favorite venues are full of girls and lively.

[Berrys66]

There is a study in Israel and two more from the UK that are currently undergoing peer review and all show that the vaccines do reduce transmission.

Elderly people should not kiss their grandchildren even if they have received a second dose of a coronavirus vaccine, an expert claimed today.

Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the Joint Committee of Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI), said it may not be safe to break social-distancing rules even after having two doses.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Professor Harnden was asked by a listener whether he was allowed to kiss his school-age grandchildren, with the JCVI deputy chair replying: "no".

"You need to be really careful and remember that even after the second dose of vaccine it's not necessarily 100 per cent effective," he said.

"At the moment, we still need to be cautious and obey the rules and I don't think kissing grandchildren is allowed".

Professor Harnden added that while the vaccine offers protection against severe disease, how much protection it offers overall still remains unknown.

"Well it'll offer you very good protection against severe disease and hospitalization but we don't know yet how much protection it'll offer against asymptomatic infections," he said.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/vaccine-ex...110237435.html