By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE final batch of Covid-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility to arrive in Trinidad and Tobago has been delayed.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Saturday said the delay was “quite disappointing.”
Dr Rowley was speaking during his press conference on Saturday and was announcing that the third batch of 33,000 vaccines would have arrived by July 14.
“By the middle of July we should get that 33,000. That would complete the COVAX commitment at the moment,” he said.
He said while other countries made a promise to COVAX, they were still promises waiting to be fulfilled.
Dr Rowley said, “Had we been relying entirely on that COVAX all that we would have happened to us here in Trinidad and Tobago and by extension the CARICOM , was that we would have had only the two (batches).”
While he was making that statement, he said he was just advised that the COVAX shipment was delayed to August.
With reference to the vaccines, Dr Rowley said, “ We are in a much better position that we were earlier in the year.”
He said the issue of obtaining vaccines continued to remain an international problem.
However he said, “ We have a steady stream out of China.”
The Prime Minister maintains that vaccines will be available for the entire population given the challenges and Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh gave a further breakdown of the vaccine distribution to various sectors.
Dr Rowley said next week another “fairly large shipment” of Sinopharm vaccines should arrive from China and 800,000 dose was expected from the Africa Medical Council.
