Major Clarke: Please honour COVID-19 vaccination appointment system

Co-coordinator of the National COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Major David Clarke of the Barbados Defence Force a short while ago made an appeal for the public to honour the appointment system.

“You will get vaccinated. Please, just honour the appointment system so that targeted senior citizens, the most vulnerable and frontline workers who are serving us all, get theirs first,” Clarke said in a statement issued by the COVID Communications Unit.

The statement said “the national vaccination effort and systems have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm of Barbadians, many of whom without  appointments or being on the urgent list,  have created crowds and long lines at vaccination centres across the island”.

“This is occurring even as officials have assured Barbadians that the country will receive a large shipment of vaccines within a few weeks and that every Barbadian who wishes to be vaccinated will receive one.

“The National Vaccination Unit once again apologises to Barbadians with an appointment who have presented at immunisation centres for vaccination, only to have been turned back,” said Clarke.

“This should not have occurred. We are currently prioritising frontline workers and select vulnerable groups, with NCDs and elderly persons. We ask that you please respect the direction given by officials and do not turn up at vaccination sites without an appointment.  The numbers of people at vaccination centres, crowded together and not observing physical distancing rules, is itself a health risk and makes useless all systems that have been put in place for management and direction of the process,” Clarke added.

“As you know, COVID loves crowds. We urge members of the public to cooperate with us and we thank you for your patience.” (PR)