By Chantalé Fletcher
TRINIDAD and Tobago is in active discussions to get some of the 500 Pfizer vaccines promised by the United States to America to 100 developing countries.
This according to Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh in answer to an Urgent Question by Opposition Senator Wade Mark in the Senate on Monday.
Mark asked Deyalsingh about the Government’s response to a report from Gavi Alliance which outlined T&T’s ineligibility to receive vaccines from the US initiative.
Deyalsingh said, “The matter is actively being discussed amongst the following parties, White House, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the Office of Prime Minister and Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs.”
The minister said it was premature to accept Mark’s assumptiom to that T&T was ineligible for the vacccines.
Deyalsingh said, “It is being actively pursued. Let us wait for the fruit to ripen out of those discussions, specifically also this Government has had eyes in the fire and it is that reason we imported into the country 200,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines last week.
“We also have another 300,000 coming in July so our bilateral talks are paying rich dividends. And that is the way the government has been acting since day one, to procure vaccines approved by world Health Organization either from COVAX bilaterally, the African Medicines Council or any other platforms.”
The minister said, “It will be premature of me to give a time frame, but I am advised in speaking to parties this morning the matter is under active considerations by all five parties.”
The US stated that the vaccines will be donated to low and middle-income countries. Guardian Media reported on Sunday that T&T did not qualify for the donation.
