Covid-19 vaccines being rolled out in Bermuda can be difficult to arrange, with reports of appointment phone numbers out of order and doctors without jabs.

The Covid-19 and influenza vaccinations are available by appointment at the Hamilton Health Centre on Saturday from 9am to 1pm, Tuesday from 9am to 4pm and next Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

Eligibility criteria for the vaccine were outlined by the Ministry of Health.

Maureen Callanan said that booking her appointment was not as straightforward as she hoped.

“I was actually able to book an appointment by going into the government health clinic on Victoria Street in person. I tried for a whole day to call the two telephone numbers that were advertised, and I couldn’t get through on either line.

“One line was saying it was out of service and the other line was just ringing busy constantly. So, I was able to book an appointment for Saturday, January 27, to get my sixth Covid-19 booster,” Ms Callanan said.

She was able to book an appointment on Tuesdayand said that she was aware of others able to make appointments.

“I do know a couple of people who have booked appointments. I don’t know how they did it because, as I said, I wasn’t successful in getting through on the numbers advertised.”

Another resident claimed that all spots are booked.

Hope Healthcare does not have boosters available.

“Hope Healthcare does not currently offer Covid-19 vaccinations. We are unable to provide any further information regarding their administration process on the island,” Marilyn Simmons, Hope Healthcare’s office manager, said.

King Edward VII Memorial Hospital has a limited supply and is vaccinating only a select group of people.

“We are administering the vaccine for our staff, volunteers and on-site subcontractors, but not for the public,” said Anna Nowak, vice-president, public relations, for the Bermuda Hospitals Board.

She said the hospital will advise the public if and when the vaccines are available for broad distribution.

In the Cayman Islands, the Health Service Authority is offering the vaccine free of charge as well and no appointments are needed.

The HSA will administer the Pfizer vaccine to adults and children. In a recent public notice, the HSA noted that people who received their last Covid-19 vaccination or booster more than three months ago could get the Moderna booster shot.

According to Monique Spence, the HSA’s senior communication officer, they have 500 Moderna booster doses and 2,800 Pfizer doses at present.

Paediatric vaccines are administered to children aged 5 to 11. Ms Spence noted that the demand for the vaccine from adults is higher than for the paediatric group.

Ms Spence added: “The Public Health Department has administered approximately 100 doses of Covid-19 vaccines to adults over the past week.”

• For information on vaccine eligibility, call the Department of Health on 278-6542