Special lines are being set up for the elderly and those with chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to get COVID-19 vaccinations at three centres.
Last night Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, in her address to the nation, said the move was an attempt to reach a vaccinated population of 70 per cent.
“We are doing this because we are satisfied that we can boost the numbers and that we can get to that 70 per cent of eligible population and even beyond that . . . because that is the minimal we want to reach before we remove the restrictions,” she said, adding that in an ideal world it would be 75 per cent.
The separated lines are to be created at Alexandra School in St Peter, Princess Margaret Secondary School, St Philip, and the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic in Warrens, St Michael.
Mottley explained that there will be special signs for those over 70, who can be expedited and brought there without having to wait in the normal lines, and similarly for those persons with NCDs such as heart problems and diabetes.
These will include patients who are attending the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as outpatients or the polyclinic in the category of a serious outpatient.
In the bid to reach the targeted 70 per cent, the mobile vaccination team will be resuscitated using predominantly private doctors.
“But separate from that, we feel that the time has returned to do as we did with Operation Seek And Save and go into the houses where persons over 70 are not capable of moving or not comfortable to move,” she said.
Mottley added that separate from the mobile team, there will be officials calling such persons and where they have not heard from anyone, there will be a special number to telephone – which she gave as 536-1800. (AC)
