By Prior Beharry
TRINIDAD and Tobago is not being used in any “guinea pig” programme for the Sinopharm Beijing Covid-19 vaccine.
This according to Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh in a response to Oropouche East Mr Dr Roodal Moonilal.
The Trinidad Guardian on Saturday quoted Dr Moonilal as saying that T&T was being used in a “guinea pig” situation with the vaccine that only has emergency licence approval.
Dr Moonilal also questioned the efficacy of the vaccine.
In a statement on Saturday, Deyalsingh said the Covid-19 Sinopharm Beijing vaccine has undergone a rigorous World Health Organization (WHO) vaccine assessment which included on-site inspections of the production facility before official approval for the Emergency Use Listing Procedure (EUL) on May 7, 2021.
He said, “The WHO Assessment is the same review process used for Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines, which all currently have EUL approval. The fact is MP Moonilal also received the same AstraZeneca vaccine which has EUL approval.”
Deyalsingh said the Sinopharm Beijing vaccine has been authorised for use in 45 countries and more than 65 million doses have been administered through various emergency use programmes.
He said, “WHO has confirmed the Sinopharm Beijing vaccine as having a very good safety and efficacy profile. On the basis of all available evidence, the Sinopharm vaccine efficacy is estimated at 78.1% for all age groups 18 years and over.”
Deyalsingh said, “The erroneous comments made by MP Moonilal that T&T will be used as guinea pigs only reinforces the MP’s deliberate attempts to derail the country’s vaccination drive and reinforces the continuous adverse position by the Opposition, led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar, to anything positive for the people of T&T.”
He said all vaccines procured on behalf of the people of T&T were selected based on the robust standards of the WHO and its approval.
