French support for it's citizens COVID 19

Budman1 wrote:

I read this:

https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/franc … 09056.html

Then this:

The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas.  The Department of State is working with other countries to ensure all residents, including U.S. citizens, can receive vaccines through local vaccination programs.  U.S. citizens currently in Vietnam should follow local updates regarding vaccination efforts in Vietnam.  For further information, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s website here

Just shake my head.

Rick

I hear what you are saying.

Still, according to this article all foreigners are going to be included in the rollout of the nationwide vaccination program in Vietnam.

My highlighted part of your post appears to be making an indirect reference to that.

I personally think it would be a horrible diplomatic move for the US government to arrange for the vaccination of US citizens in Vietnam before the citizens of Vietnam are able to get vaccinated.

I'd rather see the government of the United States prioritizing making a special donation of vaccine to their friend bordering China than to see the other politically motivated donations around the world which don't seem to have nearly the strategic value as would a generous donation to Vietnam.

It doesn't surprise me that the French are taking care of their own in the face of Vietnamese citizens not having the same benefits.

Echoes of a bygone era...

Yet Pfizer and Moderna are lobbying US CDC to approve "necessary" booster shots for (countries that can pay for them) as opposed to helping lower income countries get their first shots.  Simple greed.

I am relieved to be vaccinated in a few weeks by the French consulate with the Moderna vaccine, because I didn't want Vietnam vaccines me with AstraZeneca, the most dangerous vaccine, and only 60% effective against severe forms (30% with 1 dose, 60% with 2 doses).

I would have no problem accepting the vaccine if it was offered by my government. Lets not forget how foreigners were treated with the huge increases in visa fees when the pandemic started. No thought was given towards foreigners and their wellbeing.

For French citizens in Saigon, please take your appointment now on: https://www.fvhospital.com/covid-19/reg … r-spouses/
Appointments will be from 27th July for 2 weeks, for free.
Moderna vaccine.

I disagree that there are bad intentions behind the French policy, or that it's harmful to Vietnamese citizens, I think it's actually helpful to both French and Vietnamese citizens. 

The French government decided to take on the cost and responsibility of vaccinating its own citizens in Vietnam.  By doing so, it has taken the cost off of the Vietnamese government to vaccinate French citizens in Vietnam.  Vietnam would likely praise assistance in vaccinating people living in Vietnam, expats or otherwise.  As it stands, it looks like the Vietnamese government will be paying for foreign vaccines in order to vaccinate US expats in Vietnam as well as citizens of other nations.  How is that additional burden helpful? 

The Vietnamese government made it abundantly clear they were interested in working with foreign governments to vaccinate expats in Vietnam.  This makes sense, that Vietnam would like to have as many people living here get vaccinated for as low cost as possible, foreign or not.  Governments worldwide, including the Vietnamese government, have taken a policy position that every person vaccinated helps to control pandemic.  The Vietnamese government has stated publicly they intend to vaccinate everyone.  Vaccinated expats are less likely to carry and spread the virus in their community, and less likely to place additional burden on hospitals.

The topic of favoritism is coming up a lot in these threads.  Was it favoritism for governments to vaccinate their overseas diplomats, politicians, and VIPs abroad?  How about a diplomat's family, professional athletes, politicians, corporate VIPs, celebrities, and their families?   I don't recall seeing much outrage when this happened, nor continued finger pointing at that group of people, when they were placed at the front of the line.

I also saw a post here recently comparing expats getting vaccinated to stealing meals from local citizens.  I feel like I'm doing my part in helping the local community if I get vaccinated.  I'm in a low risk group, but I don't want to get and transmit covid to the grandmothers and grandfathers nearby, or my wife's parents, or younger people with cancer treatments, etc.  I'm sincere about that, I'm not particularly worried about how my body, in my condition, will respond to the virus itself, right or wrong, that's just how I feel about it.

That's from a public policy and moral standpoint.  From a personal preservation point of view, I can understand the position of expats, many at higher risk than myself, who've paid the same taxes as citizens in their countries of origin to fund and create these vaccines, and would like the same treatment as their peer citizens regardless of their place of residence.  If additional cost is the issue, surely the US government would allow expats so interested to pay even more tax for the shipping and logistics?  Yet cost apparently was not too much of an issue for the French government.

Vietnam quickly shut down the argument that the regulations of other nations would make it impossible for foreign nations to vaccinate their own expats in Vietnam, and made it crystal clear Vietnam was interested in facilitating this.  I see a government trying to control a pandemic within it's borders, and moves that it makes, such as allowing foreign governments to vaccinate their expats, is one method of many in doing so.  Every shot Vietnam has to buy for an expat is also competing for use by a Vietnamese citizen, is that not the case?

mtgmike wrote:

As it stands, it looks like the Vietnamese government will be paying for foreign vaccines in order to vaccinate US expats in Vietnam as well as citizens of other nations.  How is that additional burden helpful?

The keywords in that statement are "it looks like".  About 6 weeks ago, we were informed by our province that when the time comes for us to receive the vaccine, if we select AstraZeneca or Moderna, it'll be $12/dose.  We plan to chose Pfizer, which will be $42.

Can there not be more than one option? I agree with the sadness of the colonial past. However, the past has passed and Vietnam has successfully entered into a new era.
Sure, it would be sweet if the US provided covid protection for all expats living abroad but this isn't currently happening.
Wouldn't allowing local Vietnam international clinics the right to purchase directly from Pfizer or Moderna relieve Vietnam's already overburden vaccination sourcing abilities? At the same time gain an added measure of spread control, 'small as it may be'.
To date approximately 4% of the local population has received a single vaccine dose. The prediction by the end of 2021 or the first quarter of 2022 possibly 70% will have been vaccinated. Seems too little too late considering how effectively the D virus is spreading infection.
It's not that Vietnam isn't aggressively trying. Quarantining and tracing are helpful and were successful in the past. The conditions are rapidly changing.
Again, why not give all available options consideration.

Ciambella wrote:

The keywords in that statement are "it looks like".  About 6 weeks ago, we were informed by our province that when the time comes for us to receive the vaccine, if we select AstraZeneca or Moderna, it'll be $12/dose.  We plan to chose Pfizer, which will be $42.

Although I firmly agree that the Consulate should be administering vaccines to US expats, as they do their employees, the fee being charged by the government of Vietnam may not be unreasonable.  Even if the vials are arriving free from COVAX, there are costs of administration.  In particular there is the special extra-low temperature freezers that are needed by the Pfizer shot.  On 15 Mar 21 US Medicare increased the fee compensated to providers to $40 per shot or $80 for the two shot products.  Yes labor is less expensive in Vietnam than in the US, but I expect that super-cold freezers cost the same or maybe even more.

I think it's ok for So Korea and France to take care of their expats, reduces load (a tiny bit) on the govt, even tho I recall around January VN opposed foreign govts doing that.
And (controversially Im sure)  I think it is better for the US to not give special privileges to Americans abroad. The US has a special role in the world and donating broadly, treating humanity equally, is the American charitable and diplomatic way. That makes me proud.

Well except for Americans in Red China and Hong Kong, we need to take care of them.