FOR the third consecutive day, scores of senior citizens across south Trinidad were frustrated as they spent hours lined up at various health facilities waiting for the covid19 vaccine, but with little to no communication from officials.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh announced a new, alphabetical order system for those over 60 to receive their first jab.

He had said, "(From Thursday), 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."

But on Thursday, only after spending hours in lines, people were told only 50 doses were being administered at each of the 36 centres, so some were told to go back home and return on Friday.

When Newsday visited the La Romaine Health Centre on Friday morning, there were over 100 people lined up, some standing, some on chairs and others sitting on the pavement.

There were two police officers observing.

The first man in the line, Garth Gibbons, said he got there around 5.05 am, but up to 8 am, no official had come outside to tell those waiting how the process would work.

Several of those in line said they had not eaten breakfast, but were willing to wait as long as they could because they wish to be vaccinated.

Savitree Beekha, 63, and her husband Vishnu Beekha, 67, had also visited the centre on Wednesday and Thursday, but were unsuccessful.

"After the walk-in on Wednesday, we waited a very, very long time (up to) after 10 am and they tell us we have to leave because they're only giving 100 doses.

"After that, we came back yesterday (Thursday), they said A-E and our name is B...

"Someone from the health centre came and took back our (designated) numbers from us. I had number 66 and they said they're only giving 40 people and we had to leave."

Vishnu told Newsday the alphabetical system had sounded like a good idea but after seeing what happened on day one, he knew the chaos would continue.

[caption id="attachment_894685" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A security officer gives instructions to people waiting outside the La Romaine Health Centre on Friday morning. People came as early as 5am to get their 1st covid19 vaccine. Photo by - Angelo Marcelle[/caption]

He said having people gather in such high numbers defeated the purpose of what the ministry was trying to achieve.

Ramdath Jokhan, 64, told Newsday a lot of people came, saw the line and left to either return home or to go to a different facility.

Police had to speak sternly to at least two men who arrived around 8 am and wanted to go to the front of the line because their surnames begin with F. They questioned what was the purpose of an alphabetical order system if it was also first come, first served.

The officer asked one of the men, "So you want me to move this man who come here at 5.15 am and put you in front of pe