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Prior to getting to the door of UWI for the vaccine, I was having a good experience. Polite soldiers and UWI med student volunteers handled registration. I was moved to sitting area one. Baby got fussy, so I went to an empty area to breastfeed him. Then soldiers moved us to area2
In area 2, new soldier came and told me that I can’t take baby with me, so I need to have someone to leave baby with. I asked him why. He said to me, “I am telling you because I know more than you.”
I responded that I just asked why and asked if he could direct me to who would be able to answer the question of why. People waiting around chimed in with “She can’t leave her baby outside.” He walked off without an answer, and just went to talk on his phone.
Ok. No issue, no further discussion was had. And I continued to wait.
By the time we were called to go to the door, it had been a 2 hour wait. I got to the door and a woman stopped me and told me I can’t take baby inside. I said, “Can you tell me why and what’s the alternative?”
By the time we were called to go to the door, it had been a 2 hour wait. I got to the door and a woman stopped me and told me I can’t take baby inside. I said, “Can you tell me why and what’s the alternative?”
She asked me to step up the side. Soldier chimed in, “Mi tell har!” I said nothing. Just waited as they got 120 people to go ahead of me and into building. Nobody came to me. Team members looked, pointed with their mouths and whispered. Nobody came to me, standing there with baby
They seated everyone inside and started the briefing. I’m confused. I, a woman with a baby, was just being ignored. I saw where another woman was ask to leave a little girl (around 7 years old, I would guess) at the door. The girl sat, clutching a handbag, looking at strangers
A soldier directed me to a seat, and I asked him, “Excuse me, can you say how my situation will be handled?” He said he didn’t know and that he can’t help me. I said to him well that’s frustrating. A woman (yellow shirt and cornrows) turned to me and asked who was keeping baby.
I told her I will. She looked away and chatted with the woman in the black shirt. Exasperated, I said to the soldier I was last speaking to that I am leaving. At that point, a woman came over to me, and said she was a doctor with @themohwgovjm and wanted to know what happened.
I explained to her. She was sympathetic. She told me they don’t allow children in. I asked why. She said risk of exposure inside. I said that would be a fair thought, except that the waiting seating on the outside is closer than the seating for vaccines inside. 
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We had a respectful back and forth. I asked her if someone could come outside and give me the jab since they’re sticking to their rule. She expressed disappointment that nobody had told me of any alternatives. She called a center manager.
A senior person came and maintained that it’s a rule and it’s a rule everywhere. I disagreed with her, told her I was in St Ann and saw no such rule. Other women on here have said they were at other centers without the rule.
The lovely doctor told me she is a mother and has had to watch other children there today. I looked her in her eyes and told her, “Respectfully, I don’t know you. I am not leaving my child outside.” She said she understood. I told her mother’s can’t always leave the care work.
All this time, I had a baby in my hand. I told the doctor from MOH that any rule which tells mothers they have to leave their children outside to get vaccinated is anti-woman. I told her MOH could have had a solution for that.
I told her that just as how they vaccinate persons with mobility challenges in a vehicle, that could be offered to mothers if they drive, or you have another area with more space under one of the tents for women (or men) with their children.
I told her that the fact that I am the one who had to propose solutions is unacceptable.
All this time, I had my baby in my hands. Today, I remembered how they treat women with babies in the UK when they go to access services. I wish more local places were that thoughtful.
All this time, I had my baby in my hands. Today, I remembered how they treat women with babies in the UK when they go to access services. I wish more local places were that thoughtful.
It was getting cold. “Rules are rules” came out, though I made a call and was informed there is no such rule.
The solution offered after I made suggestions was for me to wait about 30 minutes for the next batch and go in.
Livid, I left. My child was getting cold.
The solution offered after I made suggestions was for me to wait about 30 minutes for the next batch and go in.
Livid, I left. My child was getting cold.
The experience was uncaring.
They seem to have made up rules and many people have just been going with it and leaving children outside. Mine is a baby, and I am not leaving him. Also, that shouldn’t be a rule without an alternative.
Disappointed, I’m still unvaccinated.
They seem to have made up rules and many people have just been going with it and leaving children outside. Mine is a baby, and I am not leaving him. Also, that shouldn’t be a rule without an alternative.
Disappointed, I’m still unvaccinated.
