Although vaccination rates have slowed in recent weeks, scores of people in south Trinidad showed up for the South-West Regional Health Authority’s (SWRHA) COVID-19 Vaccination Road Trip on Saturday.
The event at the Esperance Regional Complex saw people gathered two hours ahead of the 8 am start time to get shots of the United States of America-made vaccines; Pfizer-BioNTech and Jansen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines.
By 10 am, SWRHA personnel vaccinated over 200 people while more constantly came ahead of the 3 pm close off.
Ria Dodal took the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines as she said her research of the various vaccines showed it was ideal for COVID-19. Dodal, who visited the Complex with her best friend before their birthdays on Tuesday, said she decided to take a chance and put God in front.
Kerron Soomai shows his vaccination card on Saturday after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Esperance Regional Complex, Derrick Road, Esperance Village, Golconda.
KRISTIAN DE SILVER
"I am happy that there are many choices because now we have the Johnson & Johnson, which is a one-shot. A lot of people do not want to have to do this thing twice and get different symptoms and side effects that some people are having. People are happy to get the Johnson & Johnson. A lot of people cannot travel to get the Pfizer, so they are happy to get it here in Trinidad," Dodal said
Kerron Soomai also took the Pfizer vaccine so he could travel abroad. However, Soomai said that the process for vaccination on Saturday was tedious after arriving at 6 am and getting his vaccine around 10 am.
"There were people waiting before me and are still waiting," Soomai said.
Kurt Bacchus said he chose Pfizer-BioNTech because it outweighs the risk of side effects compared to other vaccines. Bacchus was happy that there are choices for vaccines.
The Vaccination Road Trip in Esperance continues Sunday. It will also take place at the Gulf City Mall, San Fernando, until Tuesday.
