Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Pattaya City mayor planning local rollout of Covid-19 vaccine

Published

Saturday, January 16, 2021 10:20

FILE PHOTO

The mayor of Pattaya city says officials hope to be able to buy 240,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for administration to local residents. Sonthaya Khunpluem is reviewing finances and plans to set aside approximately 80 million baht for vaccine procurement, subject to government approval.

“Currently, house registration of Pattaya City has reached a total population of 120,000 people, then we would need about 240,000 shots of the vaccine. If the price of the supplied vaccine was approximately 300 baht, Pattaya would need a budget of at least 72 million baht in order to cover all the residents in the city.”

The move comes following confirmation from the government that local authorities could purchase their own vaccines in order to speed up the process. A number of other local authorities have also said they intend to do the same. The government has stipulated that only vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration can be purchased.

Sonthaya hopes that by vaccinating Pattaya residents, tourism in the area could get a boost and the economic recovery could begin. The Pattaya News reports that officials from the Pattaya City Finance Office and other relevant agencies have met to review projects planned for the year ahead, to determine Pattaya’s spending power for buying vaccines.

It’s understood the vaccine would be offered to local residents for free, but what is not known is if that includes foreign residents. Officials have also not confirmed when the rollout is expected to begin, or which vaccine would be used.

SOURCE: The Pattaya News

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News Categories: Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pattaya

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11 Comments

Issan John

Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 10:49 am

As suggested before, local authorities such as Pattaya should buy the vaccine and sell it to farangs, killing two birds with one stone: i) make a great deal of money for the local authority, and ii) keep the whingeing farangs who want to jump the queue happy.

Win – win for everyone.

Reply
- gosport
  
  Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 12:32 pm
  
  Great idea, I think they should try this, this also can alleviate the the concerns of foreigners and attract more foreign investors not just in tourism.
  
  Reply
  - Issan John
    
    Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 3:46 pm
    
    Thanks’ gosport. The idea’s so glaringly obvious I can’t understand why it hasn’t been floated and Pattaya’s population of aging whingeing expats would seem the best place to start.
    
    … and I’m not joking.
    
    Reply
    - Nipral
      
      Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 6:19 pm
      
      Even when not joking you are funny !?????
      
      Reply
Sam

Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 11:24 am

Wow, an amazing idea to quickly jump-start tourism back to Pattaya!

Offer complete holiday packages of hotels, tourist attractions, and a shot of vaccine!

I guarantee all hotels will be full very quickly!

Reply
Jimbo

Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 9:25 pm

Someone’s spouting porkies. Re-election time must be around the corner.

Reply
James R

Saturday, January 16, 2021 at 9:51 pm

What vaccine? You haven’t got any vaccine.

Vaccine on order in not vaccine in your hand.

You will have to join the queue.

Would you really trust the Chinese vaccine?

I know you have ordered millions of the Oxford vaccine but you will have to wait until Britain and other western countries has been vaccinated first which will take a year..

Once we have all been vaccinated will we be able to call you dirty Thais? 🙂

Plus I can imagine the vaccine will be free for the locals and 3000 baht for farangs.

You will have to take a certificate of vaccination on your next three monthly visa control visit.

I am not knocking Thailand as I love my long holidays there, Thai people are friendly and kind but being efficient and organised is not one of the country’s strong points. .

Reply
- Issan John
  
  Monday, January 18, 2021 at 1:04 am
  
  Actually the AZ vaccine is being produced here under licence, James R.
  
  Reply
Frank

Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 12:42 pm

What you care that it cost 3000 baht you all suppose to have an insurance in Thailand and at least igot a good one that included that already by itself.. whining again

Reply
- Steve
  
  Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 8:52 pm
  
  Insurance will not cover a vaccine which is not manditory from an Insurance point of view, its not like a thromblytic or stenting in the sense of someone having a heart attack.
  
  Reply
London Al

Sunday, January 17, 2021 at 7:18 pm

There will be a surplus of vaccine within the next couple of months, there already is in UAE where residents can simply walk in and get a jab, here in UK many companies have vaccine on order so they can give it to their staff, it’s the basic law of supply and demand and we’re talking zillions of dollars, we’re going to be inundated with the stuff.

Reply

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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