By Sue-Ann Wayow
THERE is nothing in the Food and Drug Act that indicates a substance needs to be tested before use or approval says Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram.
Dr Parasram speaking during the Ministry of Health’s virtual media conference on Monday said Trinidad and Tobago was relying on the World Health Organization (WHO)’s standard of approval in order to administer certain Covid-19 vaccines to the population.
He said, “There is nothing in the Food and Drug Act that says that we have to actually test a substance before we approve it. We rely on WHO having done their due diligence. WHO would actually visit plants that manufacture these vaccines and do thorough inspections. WHO is the highest body for global regulation in terms of vaccines, we feel confident that they will do their due diligence.”
The Chief Medical Officer also said The Chemistry, Food and Drug Lab was in the process of being renovated but he did not have a timeline as to when it would be completed.
He said other labs such at Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) and the Caribbean Public Health Agency have been utilised for testing in the past.
