By Sue-Ann Wayow
TRINIDAD and Tobago will soon receive 173,600 doses of Covid-19 vaccines in the near future including vaccines from both India and China says Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
He also said that there was no guarantee that 351,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines will arrive given the general uncertainty of the global pandemic adding that T&T was not misled by Pfizer Inc. and talks were ongoing.
Deyalsingh, on Wednesday was once again grilled by Opposition Senator Wade Mark in the Senate concerning Covid-19 vaccines.
Mark asked, “In light of the uncertainty surrounding the purchase and supply of 351,000 doses of Pfizer vaccines for this country, can the Minister advise whether said order has been cancelled?
Deyalsingh responded, “I am happy to re-announce because the Prime Minister announced it that we will be getting 40,000 doses of WHO (World Health Organization)-approved vaccines from the Government of India. Additionally, pending WHO approval which should be soon, we would be getting 100,000 doses of SinoPharm vaccines. By the end of the month, we expect 33,600 from COVAX. So in total we expect in the incoming weeks and couple of months, a total of 173,600 doses of vaccines in Trinidad and Tobago.”
He thanked India and China for their contribution and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley “for working hard behind the scenes.”
Mark further asked if assurance can be given concerning the Pfizer vaccines already ordered will arrive in T&T fully paid for by the Government.
Deyalsingh reading from press releases from Pfizer, said demand was much more than supply and vaccine manufacturers including Pfizer will have to rapidly increase deliveries to meet the global demand.
He said, “These things are not available on a shelf that we just order and pick up. It is a dynamic situation where supply is constantly trying to catch up with demand.
“As a result, it would be inappropriate for me to give assurances at this time. But be assured, that the Government at all levels, Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Ministry of Health are working assiduously and today we can say with some degree of certainty that in the near future 173,000 doses will be available to the public.”
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The Health Minister added that Pfizer did not mislead Government into believing that deliveries were guaranteed.
“That was the information at the time. This is an evolving situation for all countries and vaccine manufacturers. What we anticipate today is now changing now by the minute so there was no assurance. There was an indication but things have changed with managing this global pandemic because up to now, supply has not caught up with demand.”
