Vaccination status not a criterion for ICU admission

Principal Medical Officer of Health Dr Maryam Abdool-Richards has said even in the midst of a bed shortage in the parallel healthcare system, the vaccination status of a patient is not a criterion for the admission of a patient.

Abdool-Richards was responding to a question from the media during the ministry’s covid19 briefing on Wednesday.

She said the issue was also addressed by the Minister of Health during last week Wednesday’s press briefing. “This morning the ministry confirms that the vaccination status (of a patient) is not the criteria for transference to intensive care.”

On Wednesday, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) Idi Stuart came under fire for saying he believed vaccinated patients should be given priority in intensive care units (ICUs) and High Dependency Units (HDUs).

Stuart responded to the backlash on i95.5FM’s morning radio show hosted by veteran journalists Dale Enoch and Tony Lee.

He said, “I specifically indicated to the reporter that (the statement) was not the view of the TTRNA, but my views because the executive did not have the time to review the question posed (and) in the two seconds that I had to respond, I did no in my own personal view.”

He said, “The question was if all things are equal, with only one bed remaining and two people – not the entire ICU because the ICUs are filled with unvaccinated people – and one bed was remaining, who would you give that bed to?

“I am using science. People who are vaccinated have a higher chance (and therefore) that person should be given a chance.”

Stuart said in that scenario, the person who has been given the vaccine would have built up an immunity to the virus and therefore has a better chance of survival.

“I am not about blaming and shaming. They have already made their conscious decision…and said they will take their chances as opposed to taking the vaccine.”

He added, in any case, it is the doctors who are the ones to make that decision, not the nurses. He said he does not believe that doctors are currently making this decision. “It is not happening because 95 per cent of the ICUs are filled with unvaccinated people. Obviously, it is not happening because the bulk of patients are unvaccinated.”