Business chambers worry over covid19 vaccines supply, fear Agostini's monopoly

San Fernando-based business chambers are expressing concern over the acquisition of covid19 vaccines for Trinidad and Tobago after Government announced it would be getting less than half of than the 100,800 doses it had ordered. Also, the news of the takeover of two pharmaceutical firms which are distributors for vaccine manufacturers by the Agostini's Group has raised alarm of a monopoly on distribution.

President of the of the Greater San Fernando Chamber Kiran Singh told Newsday on Tuesday it has been frustrating to see what is happening with efforts to acquire vaccines for the country.

Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh announced on Monday at the virtual health press conference that TT would now be getting 33,000 vaccines in its first tranche with the remaining to be delivered between March and May. TT had requested 100,800 vaccines from the Covax facility.

Singh said, “We are disappointed that we did not get the full amount that was initially requisitioned for. We advocating for the expedition of vaccines into the country from whatever source the government sees appropriate.

“The vaccines are necessary to get the economy back up and running and it is the silver lining in our dark cloud right now.”

Singh said he was worried that TT could be blacklisted from travel, doing business, getting investors because it does not possess the “vaccine passport.”

Vaccine passport is the term being used to track international travellers and to verify inoculation for travel. Countries have begun to digitise individual countries’ paper vaccination certificates into internationally recognised passes to travel. Critical to this process is being vaccinated with approved vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Singh said without the vaccines, TT’s economy would face a further downturn.

He also feared a monopoly being developed, as this he explained would put the vulnerable in society further behind.

“I would not agree to a monopoly and we (Chamber) would like to see equitable importation of the vaccine. We understand we are at the bottom of the ladder as richer countries paid for their vaccines up front," he said.

“Like other countries in the world, we also have a stratum and a class segregation of society. If there were to be a monopoly, we can see some people being advantaged and given special treatment.”

Singh’s concern came after the Agostini's Group announced its acquisition of Oscar Francois Ltd and Intersol Ltd through its subsidiary Smith Robertson and Co Ltd. The three companies are distributors for vaccine manufacturers AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson. Agostini's chairman Christian Mouttet has said the group looks forward to participating in vaccine distribution when they become commercially available.

Singh added that the Confederation of Regional Business Chambers were in discussion about the lack of vaccines coming to the country and the implications on the national workforce and businesses.

Pharmacist and president of the San Fernando Business Chamber Daphne Bartlett questioned government’s move to not engage India for the AstraZeneca vaccine and the cost of the vaccine now based on the recent decisions. India has been donating vaccines to Caricom countries. TT received 2,000 from Barbados out of the shipment it received from India.

“Is it that we don’t want to accept free vaccines from India, or is it that another country is offering it to us free, or why do we want to spend our money?

“We as a nation really want to know how much will be paid for the vaccines and who is going to benefit? We are asking the government to be very mindful of how they are spending our (Heritage and Stabilisation Fund) HSF money.”

Bartlett also feared a vaccine monopoly being developed and the implications of pricing on the vulnerable in society.

“I don’t think we need a third party as a distributor to buy in bulk. But we don’t know anything right now and government needs to come clean about not engaging with India in the first place for the vaccines.

“A takeover by one company representing the international suppliers like Pfizer, would be concerning for anyone in the pharmaceutical industry because it is going to affect pricing. Small retail pharmacies try to serve the small man and have to bargain and barter that they get the best that they can purchase.”

Barter noted that purchasing power has decline because of the covid19 pandemic which has affected jobs and livelihoods. She believed a monopoly for a critical vaccine such as this would further aggravate the situation.

Attempts to reach Pharmacy Board president Andrew Rahaman and chairman of the TT Fair Trade Commission Dr Ronald Ramkissoon about the monitoring of Agostini's or other companies on the market to provide the vaccine and pricing were futile.