Coronavirus (Covid-19)

4 top tourist destinations to be prioritised for Covid-19 vaccine distribution

Published

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 11:03

FILE PHOTO

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration says 4 of Thailand’s major tourism destinations are to be prioritised in the distribution of vaccines. They are Phuket, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai and Surat Thani. In addition, a further 9 provinces with significant infection numbers are being prioritised in the rollout of the first vaccine doses arriving in the Kingdom today.

Taweesin Visanuyothin from the CCSA says 70,000 doses will go to the hard-hit “highest control” area of Samut Sakhon, where Thailand’s second outbreak began late last year. 8,000 doses are being set aside for medical officials in the central province, along with 6,000 for frontline healthcare workers, 46,000 doses for seriously ill patients, and 10,000 doses for migrant workers and local residents.

Another 105,000 doses will be distributed to similar groups in Bangkok, in the central provinces of Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkram and Samut Prakan, and in the western province of Ratchaburi and the Mae Sot district of Tak.

The Pattaya News reports that 14,700 doses will be sent to 4 major tourist destinations, with 4,700 going to the eastern province of Chon Buri, 4,000 to the southern island of Phuket, 3,500 to the northern province of Chiang Mai, and 2,500 going to the island of Samui in the southern province of Surat Thani.

In the case of the vaccines going to tourism spots, it is not yet known which groups will be vaccinated first, with that decision being left to the Provincial Communicable Disease Committee and other related authorities.

Meanwhile, the CCSA says other plans for the 4 tourism destinations are being considered, including the possibility of “area quarantine”, which would allow vaccinated foreign arrivals to remain within certain boundaries during their quarantine period. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has been pushing for a vaccine passport policy for vaccinated visitors, while PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says the government may consider lifting quarantine restrictions for vaccinated tourists.

SOURCE: The Pattaya News

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11 Comments

Gigitour

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 11:56 am

I would return to Thailand immediately if it was allowed to quarantine in my apartment and with the vaccine done and swab before leaving

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- EdwardV
  
  Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 12:26 pm
  
  If you wait till July you might be able to visit without any quarantine. Although you might be required to stay in one of these four cities for the first two weeks???
  
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  - Slugger
    
    Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 3:16 pm
    
    The first actual good advice there’s been on here yet.
    
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Nipral

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 4:55 pm

The very first priority must be granted to gogo-girls and soapy-masseuses.
All others can wait. Tourism first !

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- Tori123
  
  Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 6:58 pm
  
  That’s all 13 million vaccines gone
  
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- Tori123
  
  Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 7:03 pm
  
  They only have 13 million vaccines
  
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Experienced Traveller

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 5:25 pm

Until the expensive quarantine is discontinued , there will be very few tourists . This has been pointed out by many people including the Minor Holdings Chairman , but it seems the Thai Government are not listening .

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Stardust

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 5:31 pm

By the way 2 shots wil be needed and they know for example how much people living in Chon Bury province, Bangkok or Thailand?

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- EdwardV
  
  Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 10:58 pm
  
  Bangkok isn’t one of the four targeted tourist cities. No doubt BKK is the largest priority for Thailand, and will get the bulk of any vaccines because of it’s huge population and importance. However I have a feeling tourist are going to be restricted to those four cities for their first two weeks. Not letting un-quarantined tourists into BKK before knowing they are not infected would probably be a good idea. In addition, taking BKK out of the equation would buy Thailand a lot of time in vaccinating the population before throwing the doors wide open.
  
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Joe

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 7:29 pm

I wonder who is willing to take these Chinese vaccinations, I don’t think too many Thais are that eager to have it.

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shawn

Monday, March 1, 2021 at 6:49 pm

i can barely wait to come back to phuket for my usual month holiday,
BUT having 2 weeks isolation is a HUGE NONO. a very large expense of time and money in a holiday.stop the ‘refugees’ coming in to work,hundreds of thais are out of work so give them the refs jobs,stop all the sneaky ‘refugees etc’ bumming their way in and nothing to stop them.
thailand needs REAL borders not forests etc., they can just walk in.

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Maya Taylor

A seasoned writer, with a degree in Creative Writing. Over ten years' experience in producing blog and magazine articles, news reports and website content.

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