By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) is getting ready to vaccine more members of the population with the recently arrived Covid-19 Sinopharm vaccines.
And the authority has injected additional measures to deal with the bottlenecking of Covid-19 cases especially at the emergency sections.
Trinidad and Tobago begins another vaccination programme on Friday with the 100,000 Sinopharm vaccines which arrived in the country early Wednesday. This will be used to vaccinate 50,000 people.
Chief Executive Officer of the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA) Davlin Thomas revealed the information on Wednesday at the Ministry of Health’s virtual press conference.
He said, “NCRHA will be administering 13,500 Sinopharm vaccines strictly by appointment only. We will be using our database to facilitate those appointments.”
People who previously had appointments would be given preference and there will be distribution to eight primary health Covid-19 vaccination facilities.
On Friday, vaccination will being at Arima District Health Facility, La Horquetta Health Centre, Chaguanas District Health Facility, St. Joseph Enhanced Health Facility and St Helena Health Centre.
On May 26, vaccination will commence at the Cunupia Health Centre, Maloney Health Centre and Arouca Health Centre, Thomas said.
The NCRHA would have administered 17,000 AstraZeneca vaccines on two drives, one in April and one in May.
Thomas also said Covid-19 testing equipment was purchased and more beds were added to the University of Trinidad and Tobago Campus in Valsayn. The oxygen capacity was increased by 50%.
He said there were additional barricading and segregating in the last few weeks which was evident at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope.
At the Chaguanas District Health Facility, spaces were made with patients being transferred to Mt Hope creating an additional 300% capacity, he said.
Thomas said there was also an increase in patient care assistance and support and major refurbishments were done to the Tacarigua Enhanced Health Facility which was recently handed over to the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA).
The CEO added that the clinical staff would also get psychological support during this difficult period.
Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh said the focus will to vaccinate people over 60 years, those under 60 with non-communicable diseases and healthcare workers.
