Deyalsingh: Health Ministry trying to avoid 'twindemic'

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the ministry was trying to avoid a “twindemic” of covid19 and the influenza during the country’s flu season from October to May.

He said so far 22,000 doses of flu shots were distributed into the public health system for the annual flu shot drive, but only 3,934 people have taken advantage of the free vaccine.

TT was behind on the ministry’s target of 10,000 per week for the first six weeks, so he urged health care workers, pregnant women, and the elderly, especially those with non-communicable diseases and who are sedentary, to get their flu shots.

Speaking at the virtual covid19 press conference on Saturday morning, he said TT had a total of 22,900 covid19 tests kits. In addition, through PAHO, the ministry ordered 160,000 rapid antigen test kits which was due to be delivered by the end of October or the beginning of November.

Of the BGT test kits, there were 20,000 in stock, 10,000 incoming from PAHO, and there was a standing monthly order of 20,000. There were 1,920 Abbott test kits in stock, 36,384 incoming, with a 20,000 standing monthly order. There were also 780 gene expert tests kits in stock.

He added that testing capacity was 1,277 per day but, at the moment, one machine was offline for scheduled maintenance and so the current capacity was 400-600 tests per day.

“We are comfortable with that load and if the population continues to wear masks, sanitise, stay home if you are ill, we will be in a very, very good place to turn around results.”

With the annual budget presentation set for Monday, he also assured the population that the ministry’s covid19 response would be well funded.

He recalled that, outside of the annual budget, he took a note to Cabinet for a proposal for $157 million to be made available to be distributed to the regional health authorities for the covid19 response. He received it and so far $79 million had been spent.

Tobago also received an additional $50 million.