Other challenges in the healthcare system took priority over COVID-19 vaccinations at one site on Tuesday.
Minister of Health Jeffrey Bostic said they determined that the Sharon Moravian Church Hall, St Thomas, would be closed so nurses could be relocated to the Eunice Gibson Polyclinic in Warrens.
He was responding to a question from a reporter who asked whether there were human resource challenges at the vaccination centres.
Several people complained that when they arrived at the St Thomas centre for their jabs, they were turned away.
“I am not aware of any widespread issues at the vaccination sites. But we’ve had a few issues at one or two polyclinics and the polyclinics had to withdraw the nurses from the vaccination site because we still have to provide the other healthcare services to the public,” Bostic explained.
“That was the view of the Medical Officer of Health for the polyclinic and supported by the Ministry, so that had to be the priority this morning for us to be able to continue to deliver the other healthcare services,” Bostic said.
He was speaking after the presentation of medical supplies and equipment at the Pan American Health Organisation’s (PAHO) Dayrell’s Road, St Michael headquarters on Tuesday.
Some of the other sites opened include Building No. 2 Harbour Industrial Park, Harbour Road, St Michael and the Masonic Centre at Salters, St George.
Meanwhile, respirators, laptops, overalls, notebooks and printers were some of the items gifted to Bostic and Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George.
In his address, PAHO/World Health Organisation (WHO) representative, Dr Yitades Gebre, said they were pleased that Barbados was one of the countries that had reached one of the vaccination targets.
“Many countries have already reached the WHO target of 40 per cent coverage and several more are on track to reach it by the end of the year, and fortunately, Barbados is one of the countries which has surpassed,” Gebre said.
He however urged Barbadians not to forsake public health measures.
“We cannot end the pandemic without vaccines, but vaccines do not replace the need for public healthcare measures and social measures. We continue to expect the allocation of vaccines from COVAX and PAHO in the coming weeks and we urge countries to continue to monitor and continue to scale up vaccination operations,” Gebre added. (TG)
