By Sue-Ann Wayow
TRINIDAD and Tobago has received 75,000 influenza vaccines at a cost of US $285,000. The vaccines cost US$3.80 each, the minister disclosed
This was announced by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh as he spoke at a Ministry of Health virtual media conference on Tuesday to launch the 2023 Influenza Season and Vaccination Drive. He even took his influenza jab on air.
Deyalsingh said the vaccines arrived on Tuesday around 4 pm and were expected to be rolled out from Friday at around 50 health centres.
For the first time, it will also be available at mass vaccination centres from next week Monday. Sites will include Gulf City Mall and the Divali Nagar.
The mass vaccination sites proved effective during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.
And to demonstrate how it is administered, he received his influenza vaccine during the press conference.
The vaccine is a trivalent vaccine meaning it protects against two strains of influenza A- the type that causes pandemics and one strain of influenza B.
In rolling out the schedules for the administering of the vaccines, Deyalsingh said under the North Central Regional Health Authority (NCRHA), the mass vaccination site is the Divali Nagar site in Chaguanas and 15 health centres will also be equipped with the vaccine.
Under the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) the Paddock site at the Queen’s Park Savannah will be the designated mass vaccination site as well as six health centres.
Due to the large geographical area of the Eastern Regional Health Authority (ERHA) has two mass vaccination sites – The Sangre Grande Civic Centre and the Mayaro Regional Sports Complex along with 17 health centres.
And at the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), seven health centres will administer the influenza vaccine and the mass vaccination site has been identified as the atrium at Gulf City mall in La Romaine.
Those schedules would also be published in the daily newspapers, on social media and on the ministry’s website.
Distribution to the relevant sites is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
Deyalsingh also said apart from the health centres and mass vaccination sites, the RHAs would be organising other vaccination drives in their respective districts.
Dr Parasram advised that if persons had any viral symptoms, they should wait at least two weeks before getting vaccinated for influenza.
This year, the influenza season began a bit earlier in August than in October, Dr Parasram said. It usually extends till May.
The reason why it may have begun earlier this year was due to the relaxing of the Covid-19 measures he said.
In explaining about the updated vaccine Deyalsingh said, “The influenza virus of any flu season starts to circulate in the cold months up north. So when Autumn starts to hit and when winter. What the scientists do, they look at what is circulating and by February in that flu season, they start to sort of predict what the variations and the predictions of the virus could be for the following flu season. That will dictate how the new vaccine for the following flu season is manufactured.”
Deyalsingh said by May, Trinidad and Tobago was invited by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to place an order for the vaccines for the new flu season, those that arrived on Tuesday.
He also emphasised that Covid-19 measures such as mask-wearing, washing hands and wearing a mask could also be applicable to the prevention of influenza.
