Chonburi –
Chonburi authorities said they were ready to purchase their own vaccinations for local residents but cannot proceed due to the ‘central government only’ trading policy in Thailand, regulated by the Ministry of Interior.
The statements come as prominent residents and business owners in Chonburi, especially in Pattaya, have expressed their opinions on what they see as a slow vaccine rollout and no clear timetable around lifting Covid-19 related restrictions that have shuttered thousands of businesses and brought Pattaya to an economic halt due to its reliance on tourism and the entertainment industry. Currently, entertainment venues like bars and nightlife are ordered closed countrywide, the beaches are closed for socializing and relaxing, and alcohol is banned in restaurants. This combination, along with most tourist attractions shut, Koh Larn closed to tourists, many restaurants choosing not to open due to lack of tourists and the alcohol rules, and other restrictions like no parties, events, or social gatherings has seen Pattaya crippled currently, with large sections of the main part of the city virtual ghost towns with rows of shuttered shops and businesses.
Wittaya Khunpluem, President of the Chonburi Provincial Administration Organization (PAO), told reporters today, May 30th, regarding the local administration organizations intent to purchase Covid-19 vaccines that the Chonburi PAO currently has accumulated funds of approximately 1 billion baht, which is sufficient in order to buy needed vaccinations for the province and expedite the current vaccination plan.
However, the procedure must be permitted by the Ministry of Interior. The central-government-only purchase regulations must be revoked. More importantly, the vaccine must be stored and in stock sufficiently for local authorities to buy.
The president further stated that apart from Chonburi, many local authorities in other provinces also wanted to acquire Thailand’s alternative vaccines for their local residents, resulting in high demand for purchase nationwide. It is expected that the import of vaccines will not be sufficient to meet the country’s needs immediately.
Wijai Amaralikit, Mayor of the Phanat Nikhom district, added that the Phanat Nikhom municipal council had also approved a fund to purchase alternative vaccines. However, they also faced a similar problem as the Office of the Ombudsman had issued a letter explaining that the purchase could not proceed.
The Pattaya City Mayor, Sonthaya Khunplume, stated earlier this month that he and Pattaya City business leaders were directly approaching the Thai Government, Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration, and organizations that deal with vaccine distribution to ask for more vaccines for Pattaya, citing the economic importance of the city and particularly heavy hit due to the amount of entertainment and nightlife businesses in the area, as well as industrial estates.
The mass nationwide vaccine rollout is expected to properly begin in June, in which many Chonburi officials are hoping that more vaccines are allocated to the area to boost vaccination programs and perhaps make steps towards loosening restrictions that see the vast majority of business in proper Pattaya either force closed or voluntarily closed.
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