National Arena closes early as hundreds rush for jab
Published:Tuesday | August 31, 2021 | 12:09 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
It was after listening to former government minister K.D. Knight sharing the story of his wife Dr Pauline Knight’s death over a week ago to COVID-19 on Radio Jamaica’s ‘Hotline’ that Neil Newell had a change of heart, deciding to take become vaccinated.
Saddened by the news, Newell offered condolences to the former senator and his family yesterday as he prepared to take the jab at the National Arena in Kingston.
“You have to make up your mind,” he told The Gleaner, urging other vaccine sceptics to take the jab to significantly lower the risk of severe illness – or even death – should they contract COVID-19.
Newell was among hundreds of people who turned out at the location yesterday, far exceeding the 1,500 who ventured out last Saturday, noted nursing supervisor Maxine Rattray-Chabelo.
Long lines stretched far yonder from early in the morning, forcing the administrators to close the gates before midday as the site had reached full capacity.
Many persons stated that they chose Monday to take the vaccine because it was a no-movement day and would be easier for them.
Despite the large turnout, Rattray-Chabelo said things were progressing smoothly when she spoke with our news team.
Anticipating well over 2, 000 people to visit the location, she said that the medical team was well prepared and up to the task.
With school orientations approaching, some parents also took their children out to be vaccinated.
“I don’t want her in the house anymore. I want her in the classroom setting,” said the parent of the 13-year-old girl, hoping that face-to-face instruction – which had been halted due to the pandemic – will resume soon.
The education ministry has indicated that secondary school students will only return to face-to-face learning if their schools achieve a vaccination rate of 65 per cent or higher.
After missing the opportunity to get a shot at the National Arena, some persons headed to the Mona Ageing and Wellness Centre at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona.
Latoya, a UWI alumna, took her freshman sister to get inoculated as she welcomed an announcement by the university that vaccination against COVID-19 was a pre-requirement to boarding on campus.
She noted that students had to be protected especially in environments like halls of residence, which she described as compact places.
“You can’t think about one person’s decision not to get vaccinated; you have to think about the health of the general population,” Latoya reasoned.
Shamoye Vassel, who currently resides on campus, agreed with what she described as a smart decision, noting that the COVID-19 situation was “getting out of control”.
Senior citizen Beverly Williams was also excited to take her first dose of the two-shot Pfizer vaccine yesterday.
“I take it because it’s essential and it’s wonderful,” she said.