The COVID-19 pandemic continues to amplify the inequalities that exist in our societies. This is more transparent in Trinidad and Tobago than ever before. Systemic inequalities continue to favor some individuals when it comes to securing a vaccination, while others are left to navigate the system, and sometimes to no avail. So why are some persons able to access the vaccine with such ease over others?
Despite the government advising persons that vaccination sites will only administer vaccinations on an appointment basis, some personal accounts seem to contradict this. While some seem to have luck getting through to local health centers via phone calls and Whatsapp, others have taken different routes. In one instance, I have heard of someone leaving their home in Western Trinidad and was vaccinated in the South without scheduling an appointment. This act of disregard for government advisement demonstrates the desperation of Trinidadians as the positive cases roll in by the hundreds each day. It also speaks to the public’s faith or lack thereof in the governing bodies and the systems that they have put in place. Another route that is being taken by those who are more fortunate is to tap into their social capital and call in favors from doctors or others with some influence over the scheduling of appointments, and they are able to be vaccinated within the week.
So what about those persons who have had no luck reaching out over the phones, who don’t have the luxuries of leaving their home to travel to the more remote parts of Trinidad with the hope of being vaccinated (but with no guarantee of a vaccination), or those who don’t have a powerful and influential network of people?
Over the weekend, my family and I were unofficially informed that some facilities began taking walk-ins on scheduled days, namely the Arouca, La Horquetta, and Arima health clinics. Upon visiting all three, Arouca and La Horquetta personnel said that they were still only seeing persons with appointments while those at the Arima clinic confirmed this was true and said to come back on Tuesday. Only to show up to then be told that they were not taking walk-ins today and were unsure if they would continue doing so. They also said that if we waited that we could fill out an appointment form. Yet after waiting for more than an hour in an increasingly long line of people we were told that there were no more forms and to continue listening to the media to be advised accordingly. My family and I then turned to the St. Joseph and Barataria clinics where we were able to get our names down for an appointment date. But even this is not a guarantee it seems since I was told by a 70-year-old gentleman at the Arima clinic who came to apply for an appointment for a second time that he never received a call after the first.
The truth is, at this moment the availability of vaccines is relatively scarce and the healthcare systems that are in place are heavily strained. It is likely that when we are able to import vaccines in larger numbers, and as more people become fully vaccinated, becoming resistant to COVID-19 will eventually and hopefully become as easy as getting a flu shot. But to tie all of this back into my initial point and to reaffirm what I have said in some other posts I have made - There have always been and will continue to be systems in place that privilege some while leaving others to fall through the gaps. Because of this, part of our existence is about constantly navigating faulty systems in order to survive. For now, if you have been heeding the government’s warnings about showing up to health facilities without an appointment, but have exhausted all other options, your best bet at this point is to actually do so and give them your name and number with the risks in mind if you are desperate for the vaccine. Or you can wait until the strain that is burdening our healthcare facilities lessen (whenever this may be).
Until these things happen, continue to adhere to the protocols to the best of your abilities in order to lessen your chances of contracting this virus because the systems are failing us and they won’t be rectified any time soon.
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