OPINION

Tactless Thailand

Re: "US snub a wake-up call", (Editorial, Sept 4), "Jab critics hurting ties, Chinese embassy says", (BP, Sept 5).

The news of US Vice President Kamala Harris bypassing Thailand during her recent visit to Southeast Asia, presumed by some to be a direct snub to Thailand -- coincided with the Chinese Embassy in Thailand expressing disappointment that the Chinese Sinovac vaccine has been unfairly criticised and devalued by some Thai internet users, as well as certain Thai politicians.

One wonders how the Thai government has managed to effectively displease both these Western and Eastern powers all at the same time. Don't they have tact, diplomacy or determination in whatever they do -- at all?

Re: "Third-shot madness", (PostBag, Sep 1).

Whilst I sympathise with Mitchell regarding his wife's situation, I disagree with him that it is madness for the Department of Disease Control (DDC) to start planning for those who have received two shots of Sinovac to receive a booster shot of AstraZeneca.

Those who have already received one dose of AstraZeneca will soon receive their second dose and will be provided with a high level of immunity.

A large supply of the Sinovac vaccine has been imported to enable those who have not yet received their first dose to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Under the new mix-and-match initiative, using AstraZeneca as the second dose within three to four weeks will provide them with a high level of immunity.

It makes sense to plan for recipients of two Sinovac vaccine doses to also receive an AstraZeneca jab as a booster. This is not madness, the Public Health Ministry is simply trying to save lives.

Re: "Public transport to run until 10pm", (BP, Sep 4).

So, the Department of Land Transport acknowledges the 9pm to 4am curfew is still in effect, but has nonetheless gone ahead and extended operating hours for public transport to 10pm. How can we possibly expect anyone to take administratively decreed Covid-19 restrictions seriously when government agencies themselves undercut the controls?

Re: "Schengen warning for US flights", (Aug 28).

On 28 Aug 2021 the Bangkok Post front page warned that foreign nationals who were physically present in any Schengen country within 14 days of entry into the US would not be allowed in under Proclamation 9993 issued in early 2020. The last time I checked the US Embassy website in Bangkok, admittedly in July, there was no mention of this.

In Sunday's Bangkok Post, it was reported that many thousands of Afghan refugees were being processed for entry into the US from a USAF base in Germany, a Schengen country.

Assuming that many of these refugees do not have US passports, will they, like all other foreign nationals, of which am one, who have been barred from entering flights to the US after transiting in Germany for a few hours after arriving from Bangkok with boarding passes and all other documents required on leaving Thailand, and being told that they will not be allowed entry onto their flights barred to the US and be abandoned in Germany to fend for themselves? I certainly hope not.