By Sue-Ann Wayow
THERE have been 371,987 Covid-19 vaccination shots administered and no one who is considered fully vaccinated has died as a result of the virus in Trinidad and Tobago.
This was the evidence used by Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh in another appeal to the population to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Speaking at the Ministry of Health’s virtual press conference on Wednesday, the minister appealed to the adult population to make an informed decision based on evidence and not conspiracy theories in choosing to be vaccinated or not.
Vaccinated persons will not be one of the statistics that add to the fatality numbers, he said.
Epidemiologist Dr Avery Hinds did state that one death occurred after the individual received the second dose but he would have contracted the virus just before receiving the second dose. A person is not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
Adding that Minister of Labour Stephen Mc Clashie will be bringing to Cabinet proposed Covid-19 policies addressing issues in the workforce as more sectors re-open, Deyalsingh encouraged all to make the right choice and become vaccinated.
The Opposition had raised issues concerning vaccinated and unvaccinated persons in the labour force as some businesses are either making it mandatory for employees to be vaccinated or giving vaccinated workers more work priority.
“While vaccination is a choice. Like everything else, we have choices in life. We ask persons to make the right choice and the right choice is to be vaccinated. It may save your life,” he said.
There were only three reasons why persons should not be vaccinated- if they were under the age of 18,pregnant, or may have an allergic reaction to an element in the vaccine, Deyalsingh said.
He said many people were still dying every day for one reason or another but “whatever low risk there is to vaccination, the benefit far outweigh the risk.”
He said the onus was now on the population to become vaccinated as there was a shift from Government policy such as lockdown measures.
Deyalsingh reminded the public of the high death and positivity rate prior to mass vaccination saying that should also be used as evidence when making a decision concerning the vaccine.
He pleaded, “As Minister of Health, I am urging people. Forget the conspiracy theories. Those people don’t have your well-being in mind. When you get ill and you end up in an ICU (Intensive Care Unit) are they going to take care of you and pay your bills at home? The answer is no.”
A day in history
From Friday, the 800,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines that arrived in Trinidad and Tobago from China on Tuesday will begin to be administered to persons in various sectors including those in the food and beverage industry.
Deyalsingh described Tuesday as a significant day in modern history as the country moves to get as many people vaccinated in the shortest possible time.
He said, “Yesterday’s shipment will help us move for managing the disease to having control over it.”
Deyalsingh said if persons step forward to receive their vaccines, 60% of the adult population should be fully vaccinated by the end of September which will not just save lives but livelihoods, businesses and there will be a decrease in hospitalisation.
Government was attempting to vaccinate between 20,000 to 25,000 persons daily using the 109 health centres, six mass vaccination sites and the private sector sites.
Tobago has requested 10,000 of the 800,000 vaccines and will be allocated the full number, Deyalsingh said.
He added that no walk-ins will be facilitated at this point and vaccinations will continue to be done via appointments.
And the minister said he will speak to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley concerning the re-opening of certain clothing and shoe stores to facilitate those in the health sector.
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