NEARLY US$2million has been spent on the purchase of Covid-19 vaccines from the COVAX facility revealed Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh.
On Monday, during the Standing Finance Committee meeting, Deyalsingh disclosed that US$1.927 which is equivalent to TT$13, 070, 320 was spent.
Deyalsingh said Cabinet agreed in September 2020 to ask for vaccines from the COVAX facility which would be sufficient enough for 33% of the population.
Only AstraZeneca vaccines have purchased from COVAX to date.
He gave further details of the COVAX purchases.
Deyalsingh said vaccines were purchased and paid for out of allocation to the Health Ministry with an initial down payment of US$1.47million.
The first shipment came on March, 30, which was a shipment of 33,600 and US$148,000 was paid. The second shipment arrived on May 10 and US$152,000 was paid via a European Union grant via the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Deyalsingh said.
The third shipment was due in June of 33,600 vaccines at a payment of US$150,000.
The minister added the total amount spent so far would be US$1.927million.
He added the expiry date for the vaccines ranged from May 2021, to August, 2021.
And Deyalsingh said the expiry date for the June shipment is not yet known.
