The Trinidad and Tobago Non-Communicable Disease Alliance (TTNCDA) has created a hotline aimed at addressing vaccine hesitancy—607-VAXX (8299).
The announcement of the hotline comes days after Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh said vaccine uptake by the population “plummeted dangerously” by 55 per cent over the past week.
He explained last Saturday that the week prior the country averaged 2,939 first doses administered per day. Last week, he said, an average of only 1,614 doses were administered per day.
But now there is an effort to counter the levels of hesitancy.
Supported by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) the hotline is staffed by volunteer operators and physicians.
It allows callers to have their concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine addressed by these doctors.
The hotline is operational Monday to Friday from 1 pm to 7 pm.
The TTNCDA said it intends to extend the operating hours in the coming days.
“In almost every country in the world, vaccine hesitancy is driven by an abundance of misinformation and disinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine from sources with little to no credibility. We believe that giving hesitant persons an opportunity to speak one-on-one with a physician, their particular concern can be addressed. The project aims to provide an avenue for persons who are now vaccine-hesitant or disinterested to reconsider the vaccine by addressing their concerns on an individual level,” a TTNCDA release said.
The association has also embarked on a social media campaign that involves posting educational materials, addressing commonly asked questions about COVID-19 and the vaccine. An emphasis is also placed on the impact of COVID-19 on Persons living with Non-Communicable Diseases (PLWNCDs), who are said to be at greater risk to succumbing to the virus.
