Long waits in South after vaccine appointment mix-up

A NUMBER of people who said they had appointments for the covid19 vaccine at other designated facilities of the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) were sent to La Romaine to "take a chance" and see if they could get the jab there instead.

They were told the district's head nurse had taken the remaining vials to the La Romaine Health Centre, as that appointment list was longer.

Newsday visited the La Romaine and Ste Madeleine health centres on Monday morning, both of which the Health Ministry listed as south sites for distributing the covid19 vaccine.

Two men at the Marabella centre had just received their first jab and said they were not hesitant at all.

Kavesh Dinanath said he was glad and "was always sure" about getting vaccinated. He also plans to register his parents, adding that his father had been hesitant owing to cardiac issues.

A 60-year-old man said "All the vaccines that passed before, I take it. All. And this one was no problem for me at all."

But there were people who had been waiting there for over two hours, after being sent from the Princes Town and Marabella Health facilities.

One person told Newsday she had an 8 am appointment at Marabella and only after waiting there for around two hours, was told to go to La Romaine instead, because "some lady from the (Health) Ministry came and took the last two vials."

After she arrived at the La Romaine facility, officials there said they would try to "filter in" the extra people, but could not give an assurance they would get the vaccine, "because they have to accommodate their scheduled (registered) people."

Two other people shared the same experience, with another woman having been sent from the Princes Town Health Facility.

A 63-year-old man said in total, he had been waiting four hours, as he waited for two in Marabella and then two more after being sent to La Romaine.

The full list of SWRHA vaccination sites included the Couva District Health Facility, and health centres at Freeport, La Romaine, Point Fortin, Princes Town, Siparia and Ste Madeleine.

But as phase two of the rollout nears its end, Newsday understands those who currently have appointments within the SWRHA catchment area will now be directed to seek vaccination at the Freeport, Siparia or La Romaine centres.