Vaccination chaos can be prevented

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I am appalled at the slow approach that the Ministry of Health and Wellness has taken in having other categories of healthcare workers authorised to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. This will undoubtedly cause major delays, frustration and chaos in the vaccine administration process.

With over two million people to be vaccinated, it is evident that the current process of using only a few public health nurses and some doctors at a few locations is inadequate. This inadequacy will become more apparent once additional doses of vaccines are received.

To mitigate this preventable situation, I would like to recommend the following:

n All trained doctors and nurses in the public and private sectors be allowed to administer COVID-19 vaccines;

n All trained and certified pharmacists in the public and private sectors be allowed to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

The combined health workforce will go a far way in bringing efficiency to the vaccine administration process. The network of private pharmacies and doctors will make it easy to vaccinate large sections of the population.

As a ‘Jamerican’, it was easy for me to get my COVID-19 vaccine shots in Florida at my local pharmacy. The process was simple, and I believe the procedure can be enhanced to prevent the delays and chaos.

ASTLEY JAMES