Barbados: Stop circulating fake messages on WhatsApp, urges Major Clarke

Barbados: The Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Immunisation Unit has advised that contrary to a social media message which has been circulating, the Crane Resort in St. Philip will no longer be operating as a vaccination site.

Additionally, the Masonic Centre in Salters, St. George, is only accepting persons with appointments at this time.

Co-coordinator of the National Vaccination Programme for COVID-19, Major David Clarke, said no walk-ins would be accommodated at the centre.

He also added that the occupancy rates at the Crane Resort were back up, so the Unit had to relinquish the space used for vaccinations in order for the hotel to cater to its guests.

While divulging details he said that mischief has caused an overload on the vaccination system as people were turning up in large numbers without obtaining prior appointments at polyclinics for COVID-19 vaccination.

According to information, the viral WhatsApp message had instructed people to walk in to several polyclinics and other locations to get the COVID-19 vaccination. 

He termed the WhatsApp information to be completely false and pointed out that the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Immunisation Unit has not sanctioned such information about walk-in vaccination sites. 

Officials said that people must be aware that public vaccinations are being done through appointment basis only and any information regarding the vaccination programme would be provided by government sources only and people must trust the only information released by government authorities. 

He also urged people to stop spreading fake WhatsApp messages which are misleading and derailing the vaccination drive while people of the country have to face unnecessary inconvenience.