‘Vaccine hesitancy’ bites in Thailand – but one province has the antidote

13 Sept 13:11 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand faces significant vaccine hesitancy, leading to low COVID-19 vaccination registration rates across most provinces, despite a national surge in cases.
Lampang province stands out as a remarkable success, achieving 100% registration of its eligible population for COVID-19 jabs, contrasting sharply with the national trend.
Lampang's success is attributed to proactive, door-to-door education campaigns by vaccinated village health volunteers, who built trust and provided clear information on vaccine safety.
The province implemented practical solutions, including developing its own local booking platform ('Lampang Prom') and a dedicated call center to assist residents with registration issues.
Strong leadership from Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn, known for his crisis management expertise, was pivotal in driving these effective vaccination and COVID-prevention strategies.

Bai Lu meet-and-greet cancelled days after China’s safety warning

Today 15:28 Key points summarised by AI

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister announced the government will seek clarification from the Chinese Embassy regarding its recent travel advisory warning Chinese nationals about safety concerns in Thailand.
The travel advisory is anticipated to negatively impact the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, despite recent increases in arrivals.
A meet-and-greet event featuring Chinese actress Bai Lu, a WeTV Global Ambassador, was abruptly cancelled just days after the Chinese Embassy issued its safety warning, though no official reason was provided.
The Chinese Embassy's advisory urged citizens to beware of job scams, fraudulent investments, suspicious travel arrangements, and the risk of illegal detention or being lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.
Chinese nationals were advised to verify job offers, use legitimate transport, avoid high-risk border areas, protect personal documents, and keep family informed of travel plans.