The rich in Thailand defied the risk to fly abroad

‘We also need to be traveling. It sounds crazy, but we really want to relax,’ a Thai woman said.
Jakkrit Yompayorm, a Thai TV presenter and broadcaster, didn’t feel any different while booking a ticket to the US to get a Covid-19 vaccine, until he actually set foot on the plane.

“I was like a kid on a plane for the first time. I look out the window a lot,” Jakkrit told VICE . Jakkrit isn’t the only one crossing international borders in search of vaccination sites. From Thailand to Mexico and European countries, the rich are booking vacations and vaccinations in the US. Broadcaster Jakkrit vaccinated in Virginia (USA). Photo: Jakkrit Yompayorm. Travel combined with vaccination This is the first time Jakkrit has flown out of Thailand since the pandemic broke out in March 2020. Looking around from his seat, he saw that there weren’t many people on the same flight as him. When the plane took off, the 34-year-old man was not only nervous because he was about to be vaccinated against Covid-19, but also extremely excited about his first foreign trip in a long time. On May 8, he was vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine in Virginia (USA), then stayed for a while. Currently, this vaccine is not available in Thailand. In recent months, the land of the Golden Temple has also struggled to increase vaccination in the country. According to some reports, depending on the state in the US will require or not require identification documents certifying citizenship. According to the Wall Street Journal, Hundreds of Thais are booking “vaccine tours” to the United States – where tourists pay about 2,400 USD/person to spend 10 days in California. This is an attractive option for those who want to combine convalescence with the need for vaccination. Many Thais take advantage of this opportunity to travel and enjoy after a long time sitting at home. Photo: iStock. On May 17, Anucha Burapachaisri, a spokesman for the Thai government, said that authorities are aware that Thai nationals are traveling to Europe and the US for vaccination. “We recommend that any Thai who intends to travel abroad, especially to the EU and the US for vaccinations, should carefully check the country’s immigration regulations and public health measures. that family first”, he shared with VICE . Still, many would rather face the long commute and potential obstacles abroad than wait for a vaccine at home. Bee, a 34-year-old Thai woman, said she decided to go to the US with her friends because she “didn’t know when it was time to get vaccinated” back home. The Golden Temple country currently has the lowest vaccination rate in Southeast Asia – only about 1% of the population has received the vaccine so far. “Moreover, we also need to be able to travel. It sounds crazy, but we really wanted to travel,” she said. Bee’s group of friends plans to depart for Miami (Florida state) at the end of May – where they will receive a free Covid-19 vaccine, and attend a hip-hop music festival with the participation of artists A. $AP Rocky, Travis Scott and Post Malone. Bee said her vaccination appointment has been confirmed. Like broadcaster Jakkrit, she will get the Pfizer vaccine. Tired of waiting Currently, the Golden Temple country is facing a new wave of Covid-19 although the country has successfully prevented the epidemic in 2020 with strict measures such as wearing masks, closing borders and social distancing. As of May 17, the total number of Covid-19 infections reached more than 111,000 people, with 565 deaths Bangkok Post. Vaccination rates in Thailand are currently the lowest in Southeast Asia. Photo: Sakchai Lalit/AP. In the latest wave of infections alone, Thailand recorded an average of 2,000 new positive cases per day – a number many times larger than last year. Many foreign nationals living and working in Thailand also quickly find a way to return to their homeland for the same reason: they do not trust the country’s vaccine deployment plan. Kevin Cummings (66 years old) is one of them. “The shortage of vaccines and jobs in this country compared to the simple vaccination schedule in the US makes us think and consider. We really hope there is a positive signal in Thailand, not worse, but who can predict what?”, he said. As the pandemic continued into its second year, Jakkrit himself was tired of “just hanging around the apartment”. That was the reason why he booked a ticket from Bangkok (Thailand) to the US. After being vaccinated, the male announcer not only felt more relieved, but also encouraged when Thai people went abroad to get vaccinated like him if they had economic conditions. “Vaccines are the only weapon that helps us fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus. But it would be even better if people had the choice to get the vaccine they feel most confident in,” he said.