Reader talkback results: Should foreign embassies provide Covid19 vaccines for their citizens in Thailand?

The following is our exclusive weekly feature in which we ask our readers a news topical question and then give you a week to answer it on our various channels, compiling a diverse range of answers and opinions to present.

Last week, we asked you the following:

Reader TalkBack: Should foreign embassies provide Covid19 vaccines for their citizens in Thailand?

Here is what you, our readers, had to say as our editors selected some of the most diverse responses to highlight different points of view. We had a ton of responses to this topic including some very detailed ones as you will see below, here are just a few of the answers. Do you still want to chime in? Here is how:

Let us know in comments, on our social media, or mail us at Pattayanewseditor@gmail.com. Please keep in mind all comments below are those of the reader, and may not reflect those of The Pattaya News Company Limited.

Kevin S-No. Lived here for almost 40 years, pay taxes here. Have no connection with home country except passport. It’s stupid for Thailand not to vaccinate foreigners in Thailand using the same criteria they use for citizens, over 80, over 60, etc. as most foreigners have daily contact with Thais as Thais do and therefore the risk of passing it on is exactly the same.

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Willi H- I’m a German national, have lived in Thailand for 20 years, and still pay tax in Germany for my pension. I would appreciate it if my Embassy would provide the vaccine for me -and other Germans living here for good-and am willing to pay for it.

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Ray Z- I’m a U.S. Citizen. If my country has enough vaccines left over to give to other countries, I think they should take care of their own people FIRST. But that would require the Embassy to do some work. I’m not holding my breath.

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Bruce F-Oh my god, don’t get me started. I’m currently in the USA and got vaccinated here because our fuc#*ing country refused to get us vaccinated. Now I don’t know when I can come back without a 14-day quarantine from this stupid a** country I live in. 14-day quarantine for fully vaccinated people. Just plain stupid. Lots of stupid to go around from both countries. The US embassy told me my healthcare is “my responsibility”. I guess they didn’t hear about this thing called covid. It’s a pandemic you know. LOL

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TJ E-That is not the role of an embassy. You have expatriates scattered throughout Thailand so making them available where the embassies are located is both inefficient and would jam the embassies with people making life impossible for those who have other business at the embassy. If the U.S. or any country finds it something they would like to do, they should work with the Thai govt. to get vaccines specifically for their citizens distributed to hospitals throughout the country. Personally, I made the decision to come here. I can either wait until the private hospitals have some for me, or get on a plane if I so want. Not my country’s problem that I chose to come here.

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Eden C-I know in the UK the government is providing all citizens and foreigners free vaccines because it’s a team effort to combat this virus. If we only worry about our own then the virus will still continue to spread through migrant workers and foreigners. The Thai government needs to take a more open view and speed up the process. Considering the country was covid free in June 2020 they should have ordered and have started vaccinations a lot quicker to keep the country safe and covid free. Yes, I believe the embassies of our own countries should step in to support their citizens. But I also believe that as foreigners we hugely support the economy here by living here and the Thai government should also provide free vaccination for all foreigners and quickly to stop the spread.

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Robert H-I am absolutely for it and especially the US citizens should be vaccinated before the Thais. Last year no one Thai wanted to be a lab rat and this year everyone is crying out for quick vaccination. Americans in particular have risked it and have become laboratory rats for the whole world and the world laughed at it and thought Covid was under control everywhere. Thought wrong. This willingness to take risks should be rewarded. I’m not an American but a German, they were too late but faster than Thais, that should also be rewarded. At first Farang countries were arrogant and were overrun by Covid and then Asians were arrogant and were also overrun by Covid. The world is fairer than thought.

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Alastair M-The reason for US taxes being paid by its overseas citizens is to provide us with assistance in a worldwide emergency, so yes. Other countries more debatable, but as we know China is taking care of its citizens, and the main vaccine here is supposed to be a UK vaccine, so you would think that the same should apply to UK citizens too.

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Ron C-