RADHICA DE SILVA
A pilot study is being done to test the feasibility of making the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts (SAPA) a mass drive-through vaccination site.
Speaking to reporters at SAPA yesterday, Southwest Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) CEO Dr Brian Armour said two pilot studies were done on Monday and Tuesday to determine whether it was feasible to have drive-through vaccinations at SAPA twice per week.
Asked whether this would be rolled out in the near future, Armour said it was too early to say. He explained that the pilot study was showing favourable results.
However, he said the findings will have to be assessed by the Ministry of Health and its team before any decision could be taken.
With regard to reports that people had been turned away from a mass vaccination site at Powergen, Penal, Armour said there was an incident where about 40 people went to the site without appointments.
He said some were accommodated but others were told to return after making appointments.
Armour also said the website for appointments was heavily trafficked and once health centre appointments are booked for a particular area, then further appointments will be put on hold pending the availability of space. He said people also have the option to go to a centre to make an appointment if they could not get through with the online appointments.
