One day after Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh indicated that Government wants to reopen the retail sector and would need people in the industry to be vaccinated, the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) announced it would be facilitating appointments for both business owners and their staff who are interested.
In a release yesterday, DOMA confirmed arrangements had been made through the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) following a directive from the Ministry of Health.
The release stated, “Because our county is trying to extricate itself from the pandemic headlock that is choking the life out of our economy, we consider it necessary to point out our appreciation for the determination to succeed which we have observed in our dealings with the Minister of Health, the Chief Executive Officer of the NWRHA and with the members of the NWRHA who have been assigned to assist us.”
DOMA added that it was “nothing short of heartening and inspirational to have witnessed the passion and energy” with which the Minister, CEO and all the staff members of the NWRHA who were assisting them in the vaccination appointment process at the Grand Stand at the Queen’s Park Savannah had approached the process.
DOMA advised individuals in the retail sector wishing to make appointments for themselves and their staff to contact domapostt@gmail.com to provide a list of names.
The initiative also allows these people to include their family members.
Persons younger than 18, or who are pregnant are not eligible.
The mass vaccination site where this cohort of people, along with walk-ins, will be accommodated, the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA) in Port-of-Spain, is being operated by the joint chambers, including the T&T Chamber, Amcham, TTMA and others.
DOMA stressed, “If the retail sector is serious about reopening, we must increase the numbers of vaccinated persons with quick speed.
“We wish to encourage members of the public to avail themselves of the opportunity of becoming vaccinated, especially given the very positive data on vaccination and the very negative outcome to those who are not vaccinated.
“Great fear exists that a third wave of this pandemic will be a wave of unvaccinated persons, and it will be a tragedy of immense proportions for those who expose themselves to this risk, where there is no scientific data to support not taking the vaccine at once.”