By Mona Sutherland for
Panama-Guide.com - Hi Don, This is Mona Sutherland...So, I thought you would be interested to hear my experience in Corozal getting my Yellow Fever vaccination. I arrived at 7 a.m. and there was already approx. 100 people plus, of which many had arrived at 5 - 5:30 a.m. They were, obviously, unorganized. A woman started handing out tickets with numbers, and my friend and I received 151 and 172, so we said, "Hey, what is this." She said, oh, I didn't notice I was passing them to people out of order (disculpe, disculpe) ... Hmmmm, it became obvious that people were slipping some bills to get the lower numbered tickets. So, after waiting over an hour to pay, you sit around for another hour or to to get the shot. There are limited facilities, including bathrooms, food, beverages, so go with something to do and something to snack on. (more)
The women were also letting a lot of people in front...Jubilados get priority and have a separate line. But, others were passing as well, that didn't seem to have any disability or health issue.
Naturally, the people that had been waiting in line (this is at approx. 11 a.m. -- So close you can see the door) started to bicker.
What really made me mad was when we went inside to get the card (first you get the card to stamp, and then the actual vaccination), and a Chinese fellow, Panamanian citizen now, didn't understand Spanish 100%. So, the woman working there said (in a loud voice with approx. 8 people around), "How can this guy be a citizen and not speak Spanish!" And I said, "Que grosera! Gente en mi pais no habla ingles y no les digo nada..." I thought it was SO rude that a government worker would criticize, in front of various others, a Panamanian citizen.
Anyway, we left at about 11:45 to noon with the shot..
(Thanks, Mona)
Copyright 2008 by Mona Sutherland for
Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.
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