WHILE the Health Ministry said it expected high vaccine acceptance as it began allowing walk-ins for covid19 vaccinations, it did not anticipate the chaos that took place on Wednesday morning.

Health centres throughout the country were jam-packed with people eager for their first jab with the Sinopharm vaccine.

As a result, a new alphabetical system will begin on Thursday and only those 60 and older or with a non-communicable disease may use it.

On Saturday, the ministry announced walk-in arrangements for the first dose of Sinopharm at 36 locations from Wednesday for people in those categories.

In its infographics, the ministry made it clear, "Only people who are eligible will be facilitated. "However, it seems some people did not realise the walk-in shots were not available to anyone who wanted them.

On Wednesday morning, videos and photos circulating on social media showing large crowds at all the vaccination sites, with little to no physical distancing. Police had to intervene at many of them to ensure public health regulations were being adhered to.

[caption id="attachment_894336" align="alignnone" width="1024"] The police tried to manage the long lines of people outside the Barataria Health Centre hoping to get their covid19 vaccine shot. - Photo by Sureash Cholai[/caption]

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh took the opportunity during the ministry's virtual media conference to apologise to the nation for what had happened.

He said, "We underestimated the demand for vaccines and we must sincerely apologise. And I, as minister, sincerely apologise for this this morning."

He said the appointment system was "not working in the best interest" of the elderly population, so the ministry sought to begin the first-come, first-served, walk-in method that many people had been asking for.

"But coming out of this apology, we must learn some lessons," he said. "From Thursday, we will start an alphabetical system using surnames in groups of five.

"So from tomorrow, over 60 alone.

"We are only going to be handling persons over 60 with surnames starting from A-E (who) will get into our health centres. On Friday, we going to do F-J and then we will communicate with the public (and)so on and so on."

[caption id="attachment_894279" align="alignnone" width="1024"] I'M SORRY: Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh. -[/caption]

He thanked the public for "their overwhelming response to the vaccination drive" as it showed there was a high level of vaccine acceptance.

He added that while he was in no way making excuses, many of the people who showed up at the vaccination sites on Wednesday were not eligible.

"And the CEOs (of the regional health authorities) could attest to this...and that was part of the issue, healthy persons under 60.

"But we must accept responsibility and in accepting responsibility, we do now have to cut it off to persons over 60, unfortunately....Persons under 60, (for) the time being, don't show up from tomorrow. Your turn will come as we get more and more vaccines into the