Pattaya has rolled out its much-anticipated annual flu vaccination drive, turning a routine public-health task into a community-minded celebration of prevention. The campaign kicked off on Thursday, August 28, at the Pattaya Community Medical Centre (Wat Boon Kanjanaram), where deputy mayors Wuttisak Rermkitjakan and Krisana Boonsawat dropped by to cheer on medical staff, high-five volunteers and meet residents lining up for their free jabs.
Organised by the Public Health Services Division of Pattaya’s Health and Environment Office, the drive aims to make flu protection easy, quick and—most importantly—free. The goal is straightforward: reduce illness, blunt the seasonal spike in cases and build community-level immunity so Pattaya’s families, workers and visitors can enjoy the city with fewer sniffles and more smiles. City officials stress that the initiative aligns with the Better Pattaya policy, a broader push to improve public health and wellbeing across the city.
What happened at Wat Boon Kanjanaram
Medical teams, supported by local volunteers from OrSorMor, were on hand to administer four-strain influenza vaccines to residents. The scene was purposeful but friendly: staff guided recipients through consent forms, offered brief advice on side effects and recovery, and handed out helpful tips on how to lower infection risk—think handwashing, staying home when sick, and seeking care early if symptoms worsen.
Officials reported a steady, upbeat turnout throughout the morning. Residents appreciated the convenience of a nearby clinic and the chance to protect themselves and their neighbors. Deputy Mayor Wuttisak praised the dedication of health workers and volunteers, noting that widespread vaccination helps protect vulnerable people and reduces the pressure on hospitals during peak season.
Where and when you can get protected
Missed the first day? No problem. Pattaya’s next vaccination session is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, at the Khlong Dong Tan area of Jomtien Beach. The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and offers free shots to residents on a first-come, first-served basis. Whether you live in town or are visiting the shoreline, it’s a quick pit stop that could save you days of fever and fatigue later on.
For more details, residents can call Pattaya Public Health Services at 094-458-6493 during office hours, or reach the Pattaya Contact Centre 24/7 at 1337. These hotlines can answer questions about eligibility, clinic locations and what to expect during and after your vaccination.
Why this matters beyond the single jab
Vaccination does more than protect an individual—it builds community resilience. When more people are vaccinated, the virus has fewer opportunities to spread, meaning fewer severe cases, fewer hospitalisations and less disruption to schools, workplaces and tourism. Pattaya’s campaign is particularly timely as Thailand transitions between seasons—periods when influenza tends to surge.
Officials also emphasise practical advice for reducing complications: stay hydrated, rest if symptoms appear, and seek medical attention promptly if you’re in a high-risk group (young children, the elderly, pregnant people or those with chronic illnesses). The city’s public-health teams are focused on both prevention and early intervention to keep outbreaks small and manageable.
Lessons from elsewhere in Thailand
Pattaya’s drive arrives against a backdrop of recent influenza concerns in other provinces. In February, Chaiyaphum recorded a surge in influenza A cases that topped 1,000, with more than half reported at a provincial prison. Schools closed temporarily and some classes moved online as authorities scrambled to contain the spread. Fortunately, no deaths were recorded, but the episode was a stark reminder of how quickly flu can move through closed or crowded settings.
That incident reinforces Pattaya’s message: early, widespread vaccination and proactive public-health measures can prevent similar disruptions here.
Join the effort—it’s quick and free
If you live in Pattaya or will be in town, consider stopping by the next vaccination event. It’s free, fast and handled by experienced medical teams who know how to make the process smooth and reassuring. Plus, you’ll be doing your part to protect friends, family and fellow residents—helping Pattaya stay healthy, lively and ready for whatever the season brings.
Remember: next session—Tuesday, September 2, Khlong Dong Tan, Jomtien Beach, 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Free shots, first-come, first-served. Questions? Call Pattaya Public Health Services at 094-458-6493 (office hours) or the Pattaya Contact Centre at 1337 any time.
Great turnout at Wat Boon Kanjanaram and a solid reminder that public health can be both practical and community-minded. Free four-strain vaccines are a big win for residents and should help blunt the seasonal surge if uptake is high. Hope the Jomtien Beach session on Sept 2 is just as smooth.
Seems like a PR photo-op more than serious medicine to me, mayors high-fiving and all. How many actually get the follow-up care if they have reactions? I’m skeptical of these one-day events.
As a physician, I can say short clinics like this are standard public-health practice and do reduce illness burdens when sufficiently scaled. Serious vaccine reactions are rare and teams usually provide advice and contact numbers for adverse events, as the article notes. It isn’t perfect, but it’s better than no campaign.
The piece did mention consent forms, advice on side effects, and hotlines for follow-up, which suggests some continuity of care. But your point about PR is fair — visibility matters, but so does follow-up data.
Why should tourists or visitors get the same free shot as locals? We live here year-round and these doses should prioritize residents first. First-come first-served sounds chaotic for allocation.
From an epidemiological standpoint, vaccinating everyone present in a transmission network helps reduce spread, including visitors. In tourist cities you want broad coverage to protect all vulnerable people and keep hospitals from being overwhelmed.
I went last week and it was quick and friendly, better than expecting me to travel to a big hospital. The nurse explained side effects and asked about my meds, so I felt safe.
Thank you for coming, Somchai. We try to make it efficient and informative, and volunteers help keep lines moving while staff handle clinical checks. Bring your ID if you go to Jomtien on Sept 2.
Can someone confirm whether children are eligible at these sessions or if there are age limits? My nephew might need it but he’s only 10.
They did children at our clinic but asked about medical history and allergies, so bring any records. Call the number in the article if unsure.
I’m worried about long-term side effects; every year they change strains and I feel like we are guinea pigs. Why not focus on vitamins and boosting immunity naturally?
Vaccines are tested across seasons; changing strains reflects necessary adaptation to circulating influenza types. Relying solely on nutrition ignores proven population-level benefits of vaccination and risks more outbreaks.
My teacher said shots are to stop sick people spreading germs at school, so I think it’s good. I don’t like needles but I’d rather miss one day than a whole week of fever.
That’s a fair point, Kristina. I guess fear of needles is not a reason to skip if it prevents worse illness.
Seems like a costly annual ritual with unclear metrics. How many hospitalisations dropped last year because of this drive? Transparency matters, not photo moments.
Exactly. Show us the data or stop wasting resources on press-friendly events. Pattaya should publish results and demographics of who actually benefitted.
As a seasonal worker, I appreciated the free jab last year and it kept me working through peak season. Data is important, but lived experience counts too.
Lived experience is valid, but policy decisions need evidence. I’m not against vaccination, I’m against opaque programs with PR fluff.
Do these clinics ever run out of vaccines midday? I work afternoons and can’t come early, so first-come first-served worries me. There should be appointment slots for workers.
Supply constraints can happen. Ideally public-health offices estimate demand and hold back allocations for latecomers or set aside blocks for essential workers. Call the hotlines to check availability before heading over.
I’ve called Pattaya Contact Centre multiple times and got long waits; tough for workers who can’t take hours to wait on the phone. They should use messaging apps for updates.
Vaccination campaigns are one tool among many; they work best with outreach, education and easy access—exactly what Pattaya seems to be attempting. Prioritising high-risk groups and collecting follow-up data would strengthen the program.
We’re coordinating with local volunteers to assist high-risk residents and collect basic uptake stats at each site. Transparency is in our plans; we’ll publish a summary after the drive.
We do record age groups and basic comorbidities on site for public-health follow-up. It isn’t glamorous, but it helps planning for next season.
Glad to hear that, Nurse Mai. If Healthy Pattaya can share anonymised aggregates it would address the transparency critiques while protecting privacy.
I got a sticker after my shot and it didn’t hurt much. My mom said it’s to keep me from missing soccer practice.
Local hotlines are great on paper but in practice the 1337 line is overloaded. If they expect high turnout they must scale call-centre capacity or use online booking.
The article mentioned both numbers; your point on scaling is important and a good question for the Public Health Services Office to answer publicly before the next session.
I had no trouble booking through the local clinic number, but many elders rely on the 1337 line and likely face issues. Volunteers often help them in person.
Volunteer groups like ours try to bridge gaps between officials and residents, especially the elderly and migrants. Free drives are useful if volunteers are well-trained and informed ahead of time.
We’ve run volunteer briefings and simple scripts to keep everyone consistent when explaining side effects and eligibility. Training matters to avoid misinformation.
Training or no training, I’m tired of band-aid campaigns. Invest in clinics year-round, not just seasonal photo events.
I was visiting Pattaya last year and appreciated the free jab, but I felt weird taking resources from locals. Should tourists really get free government vaccines?
If it reduces spread in the community and keeps tourism safe, it’s in everyone’s interest. Plus tourists often pay taxes indirectly via services.
The article framed it as serving residents and visitors to reduce transmission; ethically it’s debatable, but public health often uses inclusive strategies in tourist hubs.
As a volunteer I saw hesitant people get convinced after a simple explanation about how flu varies each year. Small human interactions matter a lot.
Prisons and schools are where flu explodes, as the Chaiyaphum example shows. Pattaya should target closed settings like long-term care homes and dormitories first.
Targeted vaccination in closed settings is indeed efficient for outbreak control, but mass drives create broader herd protection that prevents spillovers into those sites.
A practical tip: drink water before and after your shot and avoid strenuous activity for the rest of the day if you feel tired. We hand out pamphlets at the clinics.
Good to know, thanks. Simple advice reduces anxiety for first-timers like me.
I refuse on principle; never been one for yearly injections. If hospitals fill up, I’ll take my chances. Not everything should be medicalised.
Individual liberty matters, but public health balances personal choice with community risk. Unchecked spread does impose costs on others and healthcare systems.
Would be nice if they offered evening sessions for working people. A nine-to-three window excludes many laborers and service staff.
That’s actionable feedback; we’ll raise the possibility of extended hours with organizers to capture shift workers and service staff.
I worry about people with chronic conditions being lost in the crowd. Are there priority queues for the elderly or pregnant people?
Yes, we try to prioritize high-risk attendees and have a separate screening area to expedite them. But at busy times it can blur and patience helps.
The campaign is good PR and functionally useful, but city officials should publish detailed results and budgets so taxpayers know the ROI. Transparency builds trust.
I’ll follow up with the Public Health Services Office for post-campaign statistics and any budgetary breakdowns; readers deserve those details.
Does the vaccine cover the H3N2 variant? Last season that one hit hard in some neighborhoods. Specific strain info would help people understand protection levels.
The article mentioned a four-strain vaccine, which typically includes prevalent A and B strains; exact composition follows WHO and national lab recommendations each season. Hotlines can confirm the year’s formulation.
If volunteers and health teams coordinate with local community centers they can reach housebound elders. Mobile teams would be better than expecting everyone to come to the beach.
Agreed, many elderly neighbors would never make it to Jomtien. Volunteers visiting them would be a huge help.
Good suggestion; mobile outreach would address equity issues and cold spots in vaccine coverage.
I support free vaccines but worry about waste if doses expire unused. Better scheduling and appointment windows could minimise waste and rushes.
We coordinate counts and try to match expected turnout to doses, but sudden surges are hard to predict. Appointments would help, and we’re lobbying for that.
Another thought: are these vaccines locally produced or imported? Local production would be better for supply security, not just one-off donations.
Local capacity strengthens resilience, but global supply chains and WHO guidance often determine seasonal mix. Investing in local production is a long-term policy goal.
As a pregnant person I’m relieved to see outreach targeting expectant mothers. Still, I hope staff are aware of contraindications and safety info specific to pregnancy.
We screen for pregnancy and provide tailored advice; influenza vaccination is generally recommended in pregnancy due to higher risk of complications.
Why not have pharmacies help out with distribution? They have infrastructure and longer hours, could reduce queues at single-event sites.
That’s been tried in other cities and could complement mass drives; it might require regulatory changes but is worth exploring.