Phuket’s Quick Win: PM’s health initiative rolls out free flu vaccines for locals and tourists

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin‘s public health initiative in Phuket, the Quick Win policy, has been launched, offering free flu vaccines for both locals and tourists alike.

The Phuket News clarified that this service is available to anyone involved in the tourism industry, either as a Thai national or a foreign worker with a valid work permit. There was an earlier confusion about the eligibility criteria, which has now been rectified.

Vachira Phuket Hospital, the main healthcare provider in this initiative, announced that the vaccinations will be administered on the second floor of Limelight Shopping Mall, located in Phuket Town. The service will be available this coming Sunday, November 26, with vaccination slots divided into three sessions: 9am to midday, midday to 4pm, and 4pm to 8pm.

Those interested can walk in for the jab or book a vaccination appointment online. The online portal for registration, active since yesterday, will close at the end of the day today, November 23. Another 250 registration slots will open on Sunday, November 26. Additionally, for those who prefer a more traditional approach, walk-in registrations for Sunday’s appointments can be made at Limelight Mall tomorrow, November 24.

However, there is a caveat. The hospital has limited supplies of the vaccine for the day. Therefore, if someone who has made a reservation fails to show up for their injection, their slot and the vaccine dose will be given to walk-in clients. The hospital encourages people to arrive at least 30 minutes before their scheduled vaccination time.

This Sunday’s event will be the second round of influenza vaccinations rolled out under the Quick Win and Safe Tourists: Safety Phuket Island Sandbox policies. The first round, aimed at tourism service providers, took place at Vachira Hospital on November 13.

Flu vaccine doses

During the campaign’s launch, PPHO Chief Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon revealed that Phuket had been allocated an additional 100,000 doses of the influenza vaccine. Out of these, 30,000 doses have already been administered to the Group 608 patients, who are considered at a higher risk, reported Phuket News.

The vaccination drive from November 13 to 17 primarily targeted individuals working in the tourism sector, such as marine industry workers, shopkeepers, staff, and food and market vendors. In the future, the Department of Disease Control will gradually distribute additional doses of the vaccine across all three districts of Phuket – Mueang Phuket District, Thalang District, and Kathu District.

Dr Kusak believes that these measures will help boost confidence and ensure a higher level of safety in tourist areas, for both Thai and foreign visitors alike.