PM Prayut Chan-o-cha offers to be first up for Covid-19 vaccine

26 Comments

1. 

   James Pate

   Monday, February 22, 2021 at 5:53 pm

   I guess the guy didn’t get that memo that says “Anyone who walks out of Parliament must go to the end of the vaccination line.”

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   • 

     Slugger

     Monday, February 22, 2021 at 5:57 pm

     Correct. Who sent the memo? Oh you imagined it, how tragic.

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2. 

   Jason

   Monday, February 22, 2021 at 6:07 pm

   James, that was a good quip…no denying it 🙂 I look at leaders of countries around the world and there’s this dilemma….Do I go first to show that it’s ok to have the vaccine or do I do the humble bit and wait till others more important to the cause of virus control have the vaccination?? (First line workers, the elderly, airport staff). I’ll let world leaders squirm over that one 😉

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   • 

     James Pate

     Monday, February 22, 2021 at 6:15 pm

     Thanks, Jason. But seriously folks, public opinion says politicians should be last, as stated in an article posted here today.

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     • 

       Issan John

       Monday, February 22, 2021 at 7:19 pm

       NO IT DOESN’T.

       It was a badly worded survey that asked who should be first, NOT last, and an appallingly badly written headline.

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     Issan John

     Monday, February 22, 2021 at 7:21 pm

     Very true, Jason – lose/ose or win/win, depending entirely on your politics.

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3. 

   Toby Andrews

   Monday, February 22, 2021 at 6:07 pm

   Still to be approved!
   Oh well that might be a few more weeks then.
   PM Prayut will officially accept the vaccine.
   Along with a troupe of trained Thais doing back somersaults and then punching the air.
   There will also be a Thai band playing and singing of PM Prayut.
   “For he’s a jolly could fellow . . .”
   The great Thai saviour saves Thailand – a publicity stunt no more.
   And what’s this.
   He said people over 60 should not have the vaccine, yet he at 66 will be vaccinated!
   What’s good for the peasants is not good for him it seems.

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   • 

     Anon

     Monday, February 22, 2021 at 6:20 pm

     A pitiful man with tremendous power. Thailand has big problems

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4. 

   Jim kelly

   Monday, February 22, 2021 at 8:04 pm

   LET HIM HAVE IT!!! BE THE FIRST!! Hopefully, he will have an acute allergic reaction to it, get hospitalised and then perish a few days later, recorded as another Covid death… it’s a plan!!

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     Toby Andrews

     Monday, February 22, 2021 at 10:59 pm

     True that would cure a lot of Thailand’s problems.

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5. 

   Issan John

   Monday, February 22, 2021 at 9:07 pm

   PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is the best leader for Thailand. Keep up the good work PM Prayut!

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   • 

     Issan John

     Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:18 am

     Inevitably for these sort of comments, not made by me.

     Rather unfortunate that anyone can make a comment here using anyone else’s name, but as the Thaiger are aware of this it’s up to them.

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6. 

   Landru

   Monday, February 22, 2021 at 9:49 pm

   He’ll get a nice syringe full of saline like the other world leaders

   Dodgy “vaccines” that mess with one’s DNA are for plebes to test

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   • 

     Pedro

     Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 2:42 am

     I had the vaccine two weeks ago, and strangely enough my DNA has not been altered, I did not grow a second head, my muscles remain disgustingly relaxed and show no signs of growing. In fact, I feel the same as I did before I had it except that my body now has more protection against the virus than I had two weeks and one day ago. If someone does not have the vaccine and then catches covid, goes into hospital, makes many people have to care for them and takes up a critical care bed when it could have been avoided with a job, then that would indeed be a selfish person.

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7. 

   Pedro

   Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 2:46 am

   Prayut would say he is showing leadership by having the first vaccine, but a leopard does not change its spots. It will be for self preservation first and foremost with him. The true military leader is at the end of the food queue and makes sure the troops are fed first and then takes what is left. That is why your PM is not a leader, Thailand. He always puts himself first.

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     Issan John

     Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 9:50 am

     It depends entirely on your point of view, Pedro – is he putting himself at the “end of the food queue” or is he leading by example?

     Does the “true military leader” make sure he gets a proper night’s sleep, which may not make him popular, but then he can take a crucial decision after he’s fully rested, with a clear head, or does he take his turn on guard duty, gain popularity, but lose sleep so he’s not thinking straight, and take a decision that gets them all killed?

     Looking at, say, Rommel and Montgomery, and Napoleon and Wellington, in all cases it was the former.

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     • 

       Pedro

       Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 2:10 pm

       Ensuring that your troops are fed and watered before going to the trough yourself is nothing to do with how much sleep the leader gets. What getting a good nights sleep for decision making purposes has got to do with the point in question is mystifying, but I am sure there will be a tenuous link somewhere in your head. The answer to your main question is that it depends on the person concerned and their intent. As evidenced by his tantrum in walking out of parliament Prayut is not a leader but is a tin pot dictator, who stamps his foot and goes into a huff when he does not get what he wants, which in that case was blind obedience to listen to him. Based on that, leading by example is not what he does, and taking the first injection is for personal gain. As you seem to like him very much, I am sure that as always, you will disagree with any criticism of your hero.

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       • 

         Issan John

         Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 2:54 pm

         Nothing “tenuous”, Pedro.

         If a military leader (not a junior, but a senior commander) waits until all his “troops are fed and watered before going to the trough himself” he goes hungry, can’t sleep, and can’t plan – then people die.

         If you’d ever been “senior management” you’d know that – it’s one of the biggest differences between senior and junior leadership, which some can’t understand and those who’ve never been there never realise.

         The idea that I’ve ever suggested I “like” him or that he’s my “hero” is about as uninformed as the rest of your comments.

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8. 

   Pedro

   Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 2:59 am

   Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul says “If the vaccine does not arrive, it will not be the government’s fault, because we have completed our side of the job.” Typical abrogation of vicarious liability by the Minister. Until the vaccine is in someone’s arm, the job has not done and it is the Governments responsibility until that happens, and their fault regardless of why and how. Bloody senior management never take responsibility for anything.

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   • 

     Issan John

     Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 9:54 am

     Aaah …. things are falling into place 🙂

     Evidently you were not “senior management” 😮

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     • 

       Pedro

       Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 1:50 pm

       An erroneous assumption IJ. Never assume what you do not know, but go on evidence, and my criticism of ‘Senior Management’ is clearly based on evidence on a lack of vicarious liability by a Minister of Government. Your dig at me is based on wishful thinking. 🙂

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       • 

         Issan John

         Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 2:58 pm

         No, Pedro, it’s based on you saying “Bloody senior management never take responsibility for anything” 😮

         Either you weren’t “senior management” or you “never take responsibility for anything”.

         You can’t have it both ways 🙂

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9. 

   Graham Walker

   Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 8:12 am

   Politicians should not get the vaccine until everyone else has received it, front line health workers should be first in line along with elderly population.

   The PM and all the rest of the dinosaurs can wait until last.

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   • 

     Issan John

     Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 10:26 am

     The problem is, Graham, that a lot of Thais like “dinosaurs” – ask Thais why they don’t like the Future Forward (or whatever) party or Anorn and the protest leaders and often it’s not because they don’t like their politics but because they’re “too young”.

     I’m not saying that’s right or wrong, but it’s simply the way it is.

     Remember, in Thailand you don’t have “brothers and sisters” – you only have “phi-nong”: elder and younger.

     There is, literally, no Thai word for “brother” or “sister”, only “elder (brother or sister)” or “younger (brother or sister)”.

     Listen to any political rally and it’s not “brothers and sisters” but “phi-nong” – it’s just ingrained into the culture.

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10. 

    Issan John

    Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 10:28 am

    The problem is, Graham, that a lot of Thais like “dinosaurs” – ask Thais why they don’t like the Future Forward (or whatever) party or Anorn and the protest leaders and often it’s not because they don’t like their politics but because they’re “too young”.

    I’m not saying that’s right or wrong, but it’s simply the way it is.

    Remember, in Thailand you don’t have “brothers and sisters” – you only have “phi-nong”: elder and younger.

    There is, literally, no Thai word for “brother” or “sister”, only “elder (brother or sister)” or “younger (brother or sister)”.

    Listen to any political rally and it’s not “brothers and sisters” but “phi-nong” – it’s just ingrained into the culture.

    Reply
11. 

    EdwardV

    Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 2:12 am

    The BP is reporting this evening the shot will be AstraZeneca now. Seems the Sinovac vaccine was only tested on people ages 18-59, so they can’t give it to him because he’s 67.

    Reply