OPINION

Headline 'not racist'

Re: "Racist' headline irks", (PostBag, May 3).

The Bangkok Post's use of the term "Indian strain" in reference to the new mutations observed in India is geographical, not racial. Similarly, the reference to the "South African variant" on the front page on May 3. The current second wave sweeping much of the world is routinely referred to as the "Kent variant" or "UK variant". There is also known to be a "Brazilian variant" which is reckoned to be even more lethal.

The current rules in place in Thailand with regard to arrivals from India are a necessary measure of self protection. My own view is that even Thai nationals stranded in India should not be immediately repatriated, but supported financially to comfortably isolate themselves in place. Race or ethnicity has nothing to do with it.

The Indian media routinely refers to Covid 19 as the "Wuhan virus". Would it be more or less racist if they called it the "Chinese virus"? In the circumstances, the use of geographical references is sensible journalistic shorthand to more fully comprehend the situation we face.

Re: "Tourist goals dashed after third Covid surge", (BP, April 24).

The latest of many downward revisions -- cutting in half the number of expected international tourists for 2021 to 3-4 million -- is certainly no surprise. I can already anticipate the news article of Dec 1, later this year, when authorities once again announce they are slashing the estimate for 2021 international visitors. By that time, it is likely that the Tourism and Sports Minister will categorically state that -- with everyone's cooperation -- he is optimistic that the new target of 30-40 thousand international tourist arrivals can still be achieved by the end of the year.

Re: "Record 31 deaths, 2,041 new infections", (BP, May 3).

I commend the BP for its excellent and informative article on Thailand's sweeping third Covid wave and I respect Dr Prasit Watanapa's responsible call for all the people in Thailand to get vaccinated when they can. Yet, at the risk of raining on the good doctor's intention, my experience with a much more vaccinated population in the United States makes me doubtful that any of the current vaccines will really contain the spread of Covid-19.

First, we are receiving news reports of vaccinated Americans still contracting Covid-19, albeit with much more mild symptoms. Second, as someone who has received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, I can personally tell you that it is not the paradise which many people had hoped. My first dose nearly sent me into the ER and we have the hospital on standby for cascading effects when I have my second dose on May 14. Additionally, my 19-year-old sister had notable side effects on the second dose of the same vaccine, despite her exceedingly robust and youthful age. Also, a quick search of Baidu (the Chinese search engine) brings up mainstream media listings of suspected fatalities among some elderly people, as well as a notable number of female health problems. (I'll leave it to the experts as well as the public to decide if the claims are credible.)

So, whilst America is starting to reopen and move on, the sad fact is simply that Thailand has been far too slow in vaccinating its population and the other probable fact is that some of us will not survive Covid-19, no matter what vaccines we presently use. You cannot command and control an airborne virus; hence the virus is here to stay and Thailand's crisis has only begun.