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From Bangkok Post Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital is trumpeting the work being done at its new Gender Health Clinic (GHC), one of the first to focus specifically on catering to the needs of the transgender community. In a recent press briefing, Assoc Prof Kasian Panyakhamlert, co-founder of GHC, said the clinic is pioneering new ways to treat and communicate with transgender people, who have special needs and have often shunned mainstream health services. Dr Thanapop Bampenpiankul, a specialist at the clinic, reiterated the clinic's open-minded approach to healthcare provision. "Some transgender people are content to play out their assumed gender role just in the way they dress, while others want to use hormones or have sex-affirming surgery," Dr Thanapop said. According to Dr Thanapop, most trans men want to remove their ovaries but only 3%-4% want to undergo gender reassignment surgery, particularly as expert care is needed to avoid potentially life-threatening complications. Transgender men are born female but self-identify as male. Dr Thanapop said GHC provides sex-affirming surgery services for transgender people including top surgery to reshape their chests, bottom surgery to reshape the genitalia and other related surgery such as cheek and jaw reshaping and Adam's apple reduction. He said the clinic has strict guidelines to follow when sex reassignment surgery is sought. One is that transgender people must receive a psychological evaluation from mental health professionals before undergoing any irreversible procedures. The clinic is also a learning centre for physicians and medical students and it has been working closely with Chulalongkorn University's Centre of Excellence in Transgender Health. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2134787/new-clinic-for-trans-healthcare

As Anddy says above, the PM's plan to reopen the country is more idea than actionable plan. From Bangkok Post New conditions set for reopening The plan to reopen the country comes with conditions, with a major requirement that only provinces that have vaccinated 70% of their population will be allowed to open completely, according to a Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) meeting. In addition, the Phuket sandbox tourism model could be paused on short notice if infections spike to 90 cases per week. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Wednesday announced a 120-day deadline for the country to reopen to international tourists and the return of normal business conditions. However, at a CCSA meeting on Friday, the body noted the mid-October goal for reopening might not be achieved nationwide. "We learned from our first failed attempt to reopen Phuket to tourists last year that such a plan should have mutual agreement from the local community. The provincial government should make the evaluation on whether the province is ready to open to international tourists," said Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn. Mr Yuthasak said 18 airlines are ready to fly to Phuket, offering roughly 200 flights. The number of booked seats stands at 6,789, but the TAT estimates it will rise to 9,000-10,000. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2134799/new-conditions-set-for-reopening

From Bangkok Post The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Friday defined Bangkok and the three adjoining provinces of Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan as dark red zones of maximum and strict Covid-19 control. Under new zoning effective on June 21, 11 other provinces are red zones of maximum Covid-19 control - Chachoengsao, Chon Buri, Trang, Nakhon Pathom, Pattani, Phetchaburi, Songkhla, Samut Sakhon (previously a dark red zone), Saraburi, Yala and Narathiwat. Dark red zones can hold activities involving no more than 50 people. Air-conditioned restaurants can serve dining-in customers to a maximum 50% of capacity and remain open until 11pm. Sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on the premises remains prohibited. In dark red zones, department stores and shopping centres can open until 9pm. Outdoors sports fields and well ventilated sports facilities can open without spectators. Schools remain closed. Red zones can organise activities that bring together no more than 100 people. Restaurants have no limits on the number of dine-in customers and can stay open until 11pm. Alcohol sales and consumption on the premises remains banned. In red zones, shopping centres and department stores can open as usual but are prohibited from organising promotional events. Schools can open. Sports facilities can be used until 9pm with limited numbers of spectators. In orange zones, the number of participants in a crowding activity is limited at 150. Restaurant can open as usual but with a ban on alcohol sales and consumption. Shopping centres, department stores and schools can open as usual. Sports facilities can open with limited spectators. In yellow zones, crowd activities must not gather more than 200 people. Restaurants, schools, shopping centres and department stores can operate as usual. Sports facilities can open with limited spectators. In all zones, people must wear face masks outside their homes and entertainment venues remain closed. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2134643/four-dark-red-covid-zones-from-monday

From The Thai Enquirer Opposition demands more clarity over reopening risks Opposition parties are seeking explanations over exactly what risks the country might have to face under the plan for reopening by October. “If the premier is going to state that we ‘accept the risks of opening up’, then the people are going to need transparent information of what those risks are,” said Move Forward Party spokesman Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha stated in a televised national address that the country would reopen in 120 days, aimed at October 14, with 50 million people inoculated with a first dose by then. “If I am to ask you to invest in my business, I need documentation of what kind of risks you are getting into,” he told Thai Enquirer. “In this case, there is no clear number of how many vaccines are arriving per month, and still [Prayut is] asking the people to accept the risk of opening up”. The prime minister also stated that the country will have 105 million vaccines distributed within the year, after signing deals with Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, and Moderna (read more here). Wiroj conceded that vaccines require sophisticated production, but it should at least be possible to estimate a minimum delivery capacity, he said, citing health experts. “If we aim to vaccinate 50 million people, but there is no information of minimum number of doses arriving per week, how can this be a reasonable plan?” Wiroj further stated that, as of the Prime Minister’s address, he has not seen any cabinet resolution on how to acquire or produce the required number of vaccine doses. “I would like the Prime Minister to address in further detail how many contracts the government has made [with vaccine manufacturers],” he said. “The number of 105 million doses will have to a combination of various contracts.” Wiroj told the Thai Enquirer that he is not alleging that the contracts do not exist, just saying that he has not seen them, and would like some clarification on this from the premier. “What Prayut said last night is just empty promises”, said Pichai Naripthaphan, deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party. He expressed skepticism that the country would be able to reopen in just four months, when it has been unable to do for more than a year since the outbreak began. To prove its commitment, the government should promise to resign if it fails to reach the goals set by Prayut on Wednesday, Pichai said, adding that people have lost patience with the government and its string of broken promises. “If Prayut cannot open up within 120 days or procure or distribute 100 million vaccines, he should pack his bags and resign in order to show commitment to the people.” Pichai said Prayut’s national address was also a response to criticism from Thaksin Shinawatra, a former premier currently in self-exile to avoid a range of charges. Pichai said Prayut’s national address was also a response to criticism from Thaksin Shinawatra, a former premier currently in self-exile to avoid a range of charges. “Tony’s comments have had a great impact on people,” he said, using a popular nickname for the ex-leader. “The national address aimed to counter that.” https://www.thaienquirer.com/28691/opposition-demands-more-clarity-over-reopening-risks/ “Tony’s comments have had a great impact on people,” he said, using a popular nickname for the ex-leader. “The national address aimed to counter that.” Share Previous articleThe News Summary – June 18 Next articleFive Thai films that you can’t miss on Netflix COVID-19 Covid-19 Government releases guideline for Phuket sandbox Erich Parpart - June 18, 2021 The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) released, on Friday, a step-by-step guide for entering and exiting the "Phuket...

From The Thai Enquirer Government releases guideline for Phuket sandbox The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) released, on Friday, a step-by-step guide for entering and exiting the “Phuket Sandbox” which will begin on July 1. These regulations will also apply to Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao when they are reopened. Before arriving: Must be coming from a country with a low to medium risk as per the Ministry of Public Health. Fully vaccinated with AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, and Sinopharm Covid vaccines (no less than 14 days earlier, but no more than one year) and has a Vaccine Certificate to prove it. Must has a COVID Free certificate to prove that you have tested negative for Covid no more than 72 hours before arriving Obtain a Certificate of Entry (COE) which could be acquired online via www.entrythailand.go.th Upon arrival: Download the Mor Chana tracing application Picked up by designated vehicles and to be dropped off at an accommodation that is certified with the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) Plus certification (Alternative Local Quarantine (ALQ) for Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao) Be tested for Covid at the accommodation or designated venues If tested negative, you can roam around Phuket. For Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao, you can roam around the accommodation and its facilities only Must stay in Phuket for 14 days before you can travel to other provinces. For Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao, visitors must stay inside the accommodation’s area for three days before they can go around to designated routes and areas on the islands. After seven days, they will be able to travel without quarantine between the three islands and Mu Ko Thale Tai. Visitors will be tested again on day six or seven and day 12 or 13. The days to be tested could be changed to be in accordance with the CCSA’s regulation at the time. Visitors must strictly follow Covid-prevention guidelines including social distancing, mask wearing and handwashing. Before leaving: If visitors are going to other provinces, they must have evidence that they have stayed at a SHA+ accommodation for at least 14 days. https://www.thaienquirer.com/28759/government-releases-guideline-for-phuket-sandbox/ ================================= From The Thaiger Expats in Phuket without a work permit can register for a Covid-19 vaccine Expats living in Phuket, who do not have a work permit, can now register for a Covid-19 vaccine. Under the local vaccine registration website, www.phuket.win, there are now links for foreigners with work permits and foreigners without work permits to apply for a vaccine. Of course, with the ever-faulty websites run by the Thai government, we had to give it a try and the links work, both on a computer and on a smartphone. For expats outside of Phuket, you might have to wait. Appointments are full for foreign residents, according to the vaccine registration website ThailandIntervac.com, which is run by the Department of Disease Control. Earlier this week, the website had a data leak due to a “temporary glitch” while the site was undergoing “urgent” maintenance to keep up with the high demand for a vaccine appointment. Other people’s names, passport numbers and locations would appear under “user information” when people tried to get in the queue for an appointment. https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/expats-in-phuket-without-a-work-permit-can-register-for-a-covid-19-vaccine

From Pattaya Mail Pattaya has ordered 100,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine made by a Chinese state-owned company, finally spending 8.8 million baht it set aside for Covid-19 jabs. Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome said June 16 that the city has booked doses of BBIBP-CorV developed by China National Pharmaceutical Group, which is commonly known as Sinopharm. The doses are being purchased at the retail price of 888 baht from the Chulabhorn Royal Academy, which moved to import 1 million Sinopharm doses amid criticism over the elected government’s failure to produce enough vaccines. The Chulabhorn Royal Academy priced the Sinopharm vaccine at 888 baht per dose and prohibited buyers from passing the cost to vaccine recipients. The price covers the costs of the vaccine, its transport and insurance on side effects. https://www.pattayamail.com/latestnews/news/pattaya-buys-100000-sinopharm-vaccine-doses-to-supplement-paltry-government-supply-359898

From Reuters /BP Hundreds of vaccinated Indonesian health workers infected JAKARTA: More than 350 doctors and medical workers have caught Covid-19 in Indonesia despite being vaccinated with Sinovac and dozens have been hospitalised, officials said, as concerns grow about the efficacy of some vaccines against more infectious variants. Most of the workers were asymptomatic and self-isolating at home, said Badai Ismoyo, head of the health office in the district of Kudus in central Java, but dozens were in hospital with high fevers and declining oxygen saturation levels. Kudus, which has about 5,000 healthcare workers, is battling an outbreak believed to be driven by the more transmissible Delta variant which has pushed up its bed occupancy rates above 90%. Designated as a priority group, healthcare workers were among the first to be vaccinated when inoculations began in January. Almost all have received the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac, the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) says. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2133987/hundreds-of-vaccinated-indonesian-health-workers-infected =========================== Covid vaccine advertisements by private hospitals to be tightly regulated Advertisements for Covid-19 vaccines by private hospitals will be tightly regulated to prevent exaggeration or any statements that may mislead the public. The Public Health Ministry has set regulations for private hospitals offering to order Covid-19 vaccines for customers including guidelines on promoting injection services as well as rules to ensure quality and safety. Department of Health Service Support director-general Tares Krassanairawiwong says the ministry has issued 5 regulations for vaccination services at private hospitals. Regulations on advertising are meant to protect customers against exaggerated claims and also make sure there is fair competition among the private hospitals offering vaccine injection services, Tares says. The promotions must also make it clear that the injection services sold by private hospitals are an alternative service and the government is providing vaccinations for free. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/covid-vaccine-advertisements-by-private-hospitals-to-be-tightly-regulated ================================= From Thai PBS World / Thaiger Health Department warns: Avoid Covid-19, don’t have sex Thailand has had a long string of frustrating recommendations for lowering the risk of Covid-19 transmission from curfews to masks to hand sanitiser and social distancing. But a new recommendation from the Health Department may have crossed a line. Avoid Covid-19: Don’t have sex. The Health Department’s Director of the Office of Reproductive Health made a statement today that is bound to put a kink in people’s… kink. He advised that sex is a health risk during the spread of Covid-19 and people should avoid it. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/health-department-warns-avoid-covid-19-dont-have-sex ============================== From Tourism Authority of Thailand

From Vietnam News HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is about to launch the largest-ever vaccination campaign with around 150 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to be injected, Health Minister Nguyễn Thành Long has said. Addressing a conference on the implementation of the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign on Tuesday, Long said that eight storage facilities will be installed, with one in the High Command of Hà Nội, and seven in military regions across the nation. All vaccine storage facilities must meet Good Storage Practices (GSP) standards to ensure vaccine quality, he said. About 15,000 vaccination stations have assigned sufficient human resources and accounts to update and publicise the vaccination process, the number of used doses and the number of people vaccinated, he added. During the campaign, all vaccination stations will be strictly supervised by an online control system, with information on the numbers of people getting injections as well as vaccine doses inoculated to be publicised. “Each person will receive a message informing them about the vaccination and inviting them to get vaccinated. After they register for the vaccination, they will receive another message about vaccination time and place,” Long said. https://vietnamnews.vn/society/976011/viet-nam-to-conduct-largest-ever-vaccination-campaign-with-all-data-to-go-online.html

From The Thaiger / Thai PBS Thailand’s FDA doesn’t approve Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, cites missing data oday, Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration says Russia’s Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine isn’t approved as crucial data is still missing. TFDA Secretary General Dr Paisal Dunkhum says the information, sent last week by KinGen Biotech, the pharmaceutical company representing the vaccine manufacturer, is the same unfinished date that was already sent to the TFDA. The missing data is: GMP PIC/S certification or equivalent Essential drug data Details of the manufacturers’ analytical process and safety studies (which is imperative for the TFDA’s calculation of the vaccine’s safety, efficacy, and quality The TFDA has asked for the absent data from the company (for the 3rd time). Currently, the TFDA has already approved 5 vaccines for emergency use in Thailand: Sinovac, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna. The Sputnik V has been authorised for emergency use in 67 countries worldwide as of June 2021. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailands-fda-doesnt-approve-russias-sputnik-v-vaccine-cites-missing-data

From the Thai Enquirer Thailand will reopen its borders by October, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha said in a nationally televised address on Wednesday. Prayut said that it was a “calculated risk” that the government must take to protect livelihoods and the economy. Thailand is in the middle of the third wave of Covid-19 with daily infection rates hovering 2,000 cases and 30 deaths per day. Over 1,400 people have died since April 1. Prayut, whose government has been blamed for incorrect decisions that have exacerbated the current wave, said that his government has been prioritizing saving lives but now reopen the country to help the economy. ”The time has now come for us to look ahead and set a date for when we can fully open our country and start receiving visitors because re-opening the country is one of the important ways to start reducing the enormous suffering of people who have lost their ability to earn an income,” he said. “I know this decision comes with some risk because when we open the country there will be an increase in infections, no matter how good our precautions. But, I think, when we take into consideration the economic needs of people, the time has now come for us to take that calculated risk.“ The premier alluded to the July reopening of Phuket as well, saying that other tourist areas that were ready would be allowed to reopen even sooner. Thailand plans to adopt the Phuket reopening for other resort islands including Koh Samui and Koh Tao. Vaccines program Prayut said that he expected the country to vaccinate 50 million people with at least one dose of the vaccine by October. Due to delays to the local production of AstraZeneca vaccines, Prayut said his government has signed deals with Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer and Moderna to deliver doses to the country. By the end of the year, the country should have had 100 million vaccines distributed or ready for distribution. The prime minister did not address why his government chose to rely on local production in the first half of the year to meet the needs of the population – a decision that has spectacularly backfired. It is also unclear if vaccinating 50 million people with one dose of vaccine will be enough for the country to reopen given the severity and rapidity with which the new Delta variant of Covid-19 is transmitted. A new study from the UK suggests that two doses are necessary to fight off the effect of the new variant. https://www.thaienquirer.com/28635/prayut-sets-october-reopening-target-for-thailand/

Although it's been at least 60 years since I saw the film version of "On The Beach," I can vividly recall the final scenes. What the two novels have in common is that nuclear war is far less likely to arise out of miscalculations than all too correct calculations that run their course in a doomsday, tit-for-tat scenario. Once a set of conditions are put into play--accidentally or intentionally--what follows can be nearly impossible to avoid. And the South China Sea tops the list of most dangerous places on the globe today. Filmed in black and white, here's the opening scene from On The Beach. "Dancing Matilda" is the movie's theme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMzEWpKKOZs

It's not exactly surprising that 2034: a Novel of the Next World War (E. Ackerman and Adm.J. Stavridis, Penquin Press, 2021) begins in the South China Sea and ends there. What occurs in between takes the reader on a journey that is its own reward. If you're looking for a beach read or just something to take your mind off the fact Bangkok isn't ready for prime time yet, this won't disappoint. Spoiler alert: it doesn't end like you--well me, anyway--thought it would. Review from the Los Angeles Times: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2021-03-04/admiral-james-stavridis-and-elliot-ackerman-team-up-to-write-global-thriller-2034

Although there's nothing Boeing can do to alter the fact that the 737 MAX was simply a poorly designed makeover, demand for fuel efficient narrow body equipment is coming to the manufacturer's rescue. From CNBC Southwest Airlines said Tuesday (June 8 it is increasing its order for Boeing’s smallest 737 Max model by nearly three dozen planes, citing an improvement in travel demand. The Dallas-based airline said in a filing that will exercise options to increase its firm orders of 737 Max 7s by 34 planes, bringing its total order book for that plane to 234. The all-Boeing 737 airline also has orders for 149 Max 8 planes to be delivered through 2031, as the company retires older 737s. United Airlines and Alaska Airlines have also increased their Boeing Max orders in recent months, helping boost demand that dried up after the planes were grounded in 2019 after two fatal crashes. U.S. regulators lifted the grounding last November. ------------------------------------- Airbus is already producing at max capacity of its popular 321 NEO so it's not able to take full advantage of the situation. The public also has short memories in matters of this sort. It's quick to discount bad news as time puts distance between the crashes. Both manufacturers received some good news today: From CNBC LONDON — The United States and European Union said Tuesday they have resolved a 17-year-long fight over aircraft subsidies, agreeing to suspend tariffs for five years stemming from the Boeing-Airbus dispute. “This meeting has started with a breakthrough on aircraft,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who met with President Joe Biden at a U.S.-EU summit in Brussels. “This really opens a new chapter in our relationship because we move from litigation to cooperation on aircraft — after 17 years of dispute.” U.S. trade representative Katherine Tai said during a videocall Tuesday that: “Today’s announcement resolves a longstanding trade irritant in the U.S.-Europe relationship.” --------------------------------- Airbus revealed today that it's considering going head-to-head with Boeing in the revived market for wide-body freighters. Airbus is weighing the development of a freighter version of its wide-body A350 aircraft, the European manufacturer’s chief commercial officer said Tuesday, a move that could take on rival Boeing in the air cargo market. The air freight market has been a bright spot during the Covid pandemic. Rates surged after the virus and travel restrictions devastated passenger travel, taking airplane belly space out of the market, creating a supply crunch. Snarls at ports have also boosted demand for air cargo.

From the Thaiger Vaccine registration website for expats back up after data leak The Covid-19 vaccination website for foreign residents is back up after an apparent data leak yesterday where others could see personal information, including passport numbers, of those who had registered for a vaccine. The faulty site is live again, but for us at The Thaiger, the button to set an appointment isn’t working. Posts of the ThailandIntervac.com data leak were shared on social media by local expat blogger Richard Barrow. Under “user information,” other people’s names, passport numbers and locations were displayed. Richard said that when he clicked on the “edit” button, another name with personal details would appear. https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/vaccine-registration-website-for-expats-back-up-after-data-leak

From The Nation / Thaiger Pattaya tourism officials are pitching a travel scheme similar to Phuket’s “Sandbox” where the mandatory 14 day quarantine is waived for foreign tourists who are vaccinated against Covid-19. The government plans to reopen Chon Buri to tourists in October, but tourism officials are hoping the start the proposed “Pattaya Move On” travel scheme in August. Under the proposed “Pattaya Move On” idea, vaccinated foreign tourists entering Chon Buri from overseas would spend the first 3 days of their stay isolated at a hotel before travelling in the Sattahip and Banglamung districts, which include Pattaya. After 14 days in the province, the tourists would be able to travel throughout Thailand. The Sattahip and Banglamung districts would need to reach herd immunity to open up to international tourists. To cover 450,000 residents in those districts, the province needs 900,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Acting chair of the Chonburi Tourism Industry Council, Thanet Supornsahatrangsi, says tourism operators will propose the travel scheme to the Tourism and Sports Minister and the National Security Council Secretary General next week. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/tourism-officials-eye-august-reopening-under-pattaya-move-on-travel-scheme

From Reuters / BP Novavax vaccine more than 90% effective in US trial Novavax Inc on Monday reported late-stage data from its US-based clinical trial showing its vaccine is more than 90% effective against Covid-19 across a variety of variants of the virus. The study of nearly 30,000 volunteers in the United States and Mexico puts Novavax on track to file for emergency authorisation in the United States and elsewhere in the third quarter of 2021, the company said. Novavax's protein-based Covid-19 vaccine candidate was more than 93% effective against the predominant variants that have been of concern among scientists and public health officials, Novavax said. Protein-based vaccines are a conventional approach that use purified pieces of the virus to spur an immune response and vaccines again whooping cough and shingles employ this approach. During the trial, the B.1.1.7 variant first discovered in the United Kingdom became the most common variant in the United States, it said. Novavax also detected variants of Covid-19 first found in Brazil, South Africa and India among its trial participants, Novavax's head of research and development, Gregory Glenn, told Reuters. https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/2132215/novavax-vaccine-more-than-90-effective-in-us-trial

From Coconuts Bangkok Vaccine site for foreigners in Thailand spills names, passport numbers It took only a few days before the big glitches happened. Despite a seemingly positive start to Thailand’s vaccine campaign, a website designed for foreign nationals to register for vaccinations late last week began coughing up their private data, putting scrutiny back on officials who may have been hoping fast jabs would soothe sore spirits. As recently as last Friday, the website launched to accommodate vaccine registration for foreign nationals, www.thailandintervac.com, was found to be revealing the names, passport numbers and resident provinces of people who registered via the website. Thai officials have yet to release a statement in response to the data breach. Calls to the Ministry of Public Health on Monday afternoon went unanswered. The breach did not require expert hacking. On Friday evening, a member of Coconuts Media using the website first discovered the breach by stumbling upon the URL www.thailandintervac.com/profile-summary.php. Every time the page was refreshed, a different foreign national’s information would be revealed. That page was soon taken offline and made unavailable over the weekend. As of Monday afternoon, the website was no longer available — notably a few minutes after expat blogger Richard Barrow called out the incident on his Twitter account. Although most netizens slammed it as an example of official negligence, some pointed out that the breach may have gone even further than Barrow had reported. Twitter user @IAmKohChang, founder of the popular travel website www.iamkohchang.com, suggested he was able to access the entire database of foreign profiles. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/vaccine-site-for-foreigners-in-thailand-spills-names-passport-numbers/

"Just don't do something, stand there" The late Jack Bogle, who pioneered Vanguard into the leading low-cost investment company, had 10 rules for guiding investors, and especially those who manage their own money. What I particularly like about them is their inherent simplicity. In the end, Bogle cautions that that we're our own worst enemy but he also reminds us that there's a easy way to avoid it: it's always better to ignore the gyrations in the market and "just don't do something, stand there." Here's a past interview that as current today as it was when he was president of Vanguard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTk9w-XuXXk

From The Nation Low immunity after Covid vaccination in some people worries experts Thiravat Hemachudha, director of the Health Science Centre of Emerging Diseases at Chulalongkorn University, revealed that many people who had received two doses of the Sinovac vaccine for three to four weeks showed no neutralising antibody, or at only 20-30 per cent. For a vaccine to be effective, the ability to inhibit a virus must be more than 20 per cent to develop immunity. People who are normally vaccinated will have high, mid and low response, but they have to go up. Inactivated vaccines, such as the rabies vaccine, require three injections on day zero, three and seven and begin to see immunity in the blood around day 10 and develop in all people on day 14. Two injections a month apart are assessed at three or four weeks after the second dose. However, there should be a satisfactory level of growth in everyone, he said. But, in some groups that were vaccinated on the same day and got the same vaccine, it appears that there was no immunity at all (less than 20 per cent). It is possible that the same lot of vaccines may have been a problem. Some have major congenital conditions, including diabetes that does not enhance the immune system, he said. Some patients with Covid-19, who have been infected despite having had two doses of Sinovac or one dose of AstraZeneca, were still infected even in the post-injection immunity test, but it was not very high. In cases where immunity does not increase, or is less than 68 per cent, which is a theoretical number correlated with virus prevention, they may want to consider getting a third dose of vaccine, either the same brand or a new one. In the case of allergic reactions or side-effects, there is no clear evidence that it increases immunity because it is inflammation through different systems. The number of vaccinations against Covid-19 in Thailand from February 28 to June 11 totalled 5,975,070 doses -- 4,362,685 first dose and 1,612,385 second dose. https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40001978

From The Thai Enquirer Smart AND sexy: K-drama has it all The Hallyu Wave (Korean Wave) has been a part of Thai culture for decades. Whether it’s the pretty-faced K-pop stars and their catchy music, hilarious variety shows, amazing skincare secrets, or their unisex fashion style, there’s really no stopping the cultural influence of South Korea — not only in Thailand and Asia, but throughout the world. And ever since we were all forced into lockdown by the pandemic over a year ago, their power has only grown in force and number. Why? It’s really all thanks to streaming giants like Netflix that are helping to overcome that “one-inch barrier of subtitles,” in the worlds of Oscar-winning director Bong Joon Ho, for us to escape into another world, a world away from the pandemic and away from our fears: the world of K-dramas! If you’re not aware of at least one K-drama, then you have probably been living under a rock. The storylines will leave you breathless at the end of every episode, and will make you swoon, gasp, and cry at their twists and turns, often all at the same time. From the historical tropes, feel-good rom-coms, family dramas to crime thrillers, here are the fan-favourite, zeitgeist-y, unmissable K-dramas on Netflix right now. (In no particular order, of course.) Continues with photos https://www.thaienquirer.com/28475/28475/

Good points to ponder. I toyed with the idea of retiring to bkk several times but it was always the growing uncertainties that dissuaded me. In the end, after I weighing all the factors, I decided that three long trips per year suited me better. That practice served me well until the pandemic and I realize how much I miss that routine. I'm ready to resume that schedule as soon as conditions permit. I remain confident that opportunity will arrive by October. Like most of us on this board, I've come to really like the guys I meet and the laid back lifestyle of Southeast Asia. So I hope the powers that be adopt a reopening that is free as possible of limitations on my choices of where and when I want to go. Other countries in the region are eager to attract tourists and I'm counting on that competition to enable my plans.

So now you disregard the facts in an attempt to make your story fit your assumption--aka fake news. You're taking a page from The Donald. He'll be flattered you're mimicking his style of manipulating the facts to satisfy your purposes. Aside from your attempt to entertain, you may take a moment to consider that the government has a bona fide interest in trying to rescue its citizens from grip of the pandemic, even if belatedly.

I believe that the US (and other governments) used similar language during the acquisition process of the Pfizer, Moderna and other vaccines. The objective was to get the process underway ASAP and to assure its position in the sequence of delivery. At the time, precise manufacturing costs could not be determined. It is not an uncommon practice in these circumstances when results are deemed by the buyer to be more important than best price. The need for speed in this case is the over riding issue. There's no denying the Thailand has been slow in getting its program moving but I see nothing to suggest (from the article) that it's unable to negotiate a contract consistent with the situation at hand.

I'm just a regular tourists but I don't think I'd have a hell of a lot trouble picking out fake a motosai driver. From Coconuts Bangkok Thai authorities have vowed to prosecute people who disguised themselves as motorbike taxi drivers to jump the queue for the coronavirus vaccine. Land Transport Department director Jirut Wisanjit said today that he has ordered his team to investigate and prosecute a group of Thai nationals who donned the signature orange win motosai jacket on Sunday in an attempt to get vaccinated on the spot. Motorbike taxi drivers are currently eligible for walk-in vaccines as they are considered a high-risk group. The group was stopped at the Bang Sue Grand Station vaccination center and turned away after officers on the ground discovered that they were not public transport workers, Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said earlier today. It’s speculated that these hi-so (slang for “wealthy people” in Thai) people might have rented the vests from motorbike taxi riders so that they could get vaccines. Such an incident occurred previously, with Khlong Toei residents selling their vaccine coupons to foreigners for up to THB3,000. https://coconuts.co/bangkok/news/hi-so-no-no-thai-officials-vow-action-against-vaccine-hunters-disguised-as-motosai-drivers/

From The BBC Joshua, Kennede and Sam Jo call themselves The SG Boys. They have started one of the first LGBTQ podcasts in Singapore - where gay sex is still illegal. Singapore's government argues that the ban must remain to reflect society's conservative views, and as a compromise it has said it will not enforce the law. But LGBTQ activists argue that as long as it remains, it perpetuates a stigma and fuels discrimination. The SG Boys tell the BBC about the challenges of living as a gay person in Singapore, and how they hope their podcast will spread love and empathy for their community. Video by Tessa Wong https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-57424596