By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRESIDENT Paula-Mae Weekes did not take an additional dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in New York but in fact underwent a PCR test abroad which is required for entry into Trinidad and Tobago.
The President at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon said she was not vaccinated at Kings County Hospital in New York as implied earlier that day.
Weekes said “Let’s make it clear, I had no vaccination in New York and what I did was the PCR test, and I would take this opportunity to record my thanks to Kings County Hospital. I have had no other vaccine, booster or otherwise, nor has any other vaccine been suggested to me to take.”
On Wednesday morning, a tweet from the hospital’s twitter page claimed the President visited to be vaccinated and immediately went viral. It was afterwards deleted, an apology and another tweet made stating the President underwent PCR testing and not vaccination.
Executive Director of the Caribbean Woman Health Association Cheryl Hall said she was also present at the hospital when Weekes underwent the testing.
Joining via Zoom, Hall said, “On Monday, I met her at the Kings County Hospital where she was admitted by the administrative staff of Kings County and taken to have the test performed.”
President Weekes returned to Trinidad from New York on Wednesday morning and said she was only made aware of the original tweet from the hospital upon her arrival.
A press release from the Office of the President, following the press conference stated, “Her Excellency thanks the citizens of T&T for their vigilance and concern and assures them that she has already received both her first and second doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine right here in T&T – the first at the Diego Martin Regional Health Facility and the second at The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.”
