Elderly brave the weather for vaccines in South

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Huddled under umbrellas, scores of pensioners turned up for vaccines at health centres in South Trinidad yesterday.

At the La Romaine Health Centre, chairs were provided to the pensioners as they sat socially distanced in the rain. Those under the age of 65 were turned away.

This was also the case at the Ste Madeleine Health Centre where only 100 vaccines were administered.

Hansraj Muradali, who stood under an umbrella, said the conditions could have been better.

“Look where they have us in the rain. It should be a system where we walk in, get vaccinated and walk out,” Muradali said.

Robert Smith said he came for a vaccine but was told only 100 people would be accommodated.

Despite the hiccups, staff worked quickly to ensure that the vaccines were administered quickly.

At SAPA where second doses were being given, people were also socially distanced under tents.

By 10 am, the lines had dissipated. Many people came for vaccines as early as 6 am.

Speaking to Guardian Media, the chief executive officer of the Southwest Regional Health Authority Dr Brian Armour said the SWRHA was satisfied with the process so far.

He said the second AstraZeneca vaccine is being administered at SWRHA’s mass vaccination site at SAPA, while 14 health facilities administer concurrently the 1st and 2nd doses of Sinopharm.

“The issue of persons receiving an advance appointment of date and time is currently the same at sites administering both types of vaccines,” Dr Armour said.

He noted that SWRHA has been allotted about 6,000 1st dose Sinopharm vaccines to be administered from this batch.

“This can be subject to change by the Ministry of Health based on their national policy review of national uptake and all priority groups under their purview to receive. This is part of the 20,000 allocated to the assignment to Trinidad Regional Health Authorities nationally,” he said.

He noted that despite complaints, the appointment process has been working well.

“Persons are visiting our centres based on an appointment system. SWRHA has contacted eligible persons in the 65 plus category to receive the first dose to visit our centres. All persons upon receiving their first dose are automatically given a date and time appointment for their 2nd dose before leaving the facility,” he added.

Dr Armour said even though people are eager for appointments, they should await further directives provided by the ministry.

“Based on an equitable process, the ministry and RHAs have collaborated to both provide vaccines and direct the site locations to also encourage equity in access to the vaccines throughout the country. This has been done and incrementally increased since April to match the vaccine availability and the level of acceptance by population groups for the same. SWRHA serves 600, 000 citizens, which is about 40 per cent of the population,” Dr Armour said.

He noted that the “SWRHA in collaboration with volunteer organisations and individuals as well as retirees, has teamed up to ensure the rollout exercise is seamless and of an excellent standard.”