Deyalsingh: Sorry, UNC, covid19 vaccines coming

HEALTH Minister Terrence Deyalsingh declared that Trinidad and Tobago is on track to receive the first 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the population through Covax.

In making this declaration in the House of Representatives on Friday, Deyalsingh said he was sorry to disappoint the UNC that the opposite is not taking place.

Responding to a question from Barataria/ San Juan MP Saddam Hosein about whether a recent raid on a factory in Italy would delay the arrival of the vaccines in TT, Deyalsingh said, "I am sorry to disappoint my friends opposite."

He reiterated that the Prime Minister, Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram, the Pan American Health Organisation and himself have publicly said several times that "the AstraZeneca vaccines we are getting through the Covax facility in the first instance are manufactured in an AstraZeneca plant in South Korea.

"So I am really sorry to disappoint my friends opposite. That is still on track."

When Hosein asked if the remaining 70,000 doses of AstraZeneca to be delivered through Covax would be delayed, Deyalsingh replied, "We have no such information at this point in time.

"Again I am sorry to disappoint the UNC that so far the other 77,000 doses, according to Covax and PAHO, are on stream at this time to be delivered by May."

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal told Deyalsingh he was sorry to disappoint him that Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar first wrote to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February to ask for vaccines for TT.

To date, there has been no confirmation that Persad-Bissessar's request was received or accepted by the Indian government.

Speaker of the House Bridgid Annisette-George disallowed questions from Moonilal about criteria for TT nationals and foreigners entering TT to show they have been vaccinated and when 351,000 doses of vaccine from Pfizer would be coming to TT.

On Thursday, Ansa McAl Group chairman A Norman Sabga said the group is still attempting to source vaccines. In the Senate on Tuesday, Deyalsingh said there was no contradiction between statements bygroup CEO Anthony Sabga III and himself about the procurement of covid19 vaccines. He also said he is working with Sabga III and Supermarkets Association president Rajiv Diptee to procure safe WHO (World Health Organization) -approved vaccines for TT if available to the private sector.

On Wednesday, Deyalsingh said TT can expect to receive a total of 173, 600 covid19 vaccines from India, China and Covax in the coming months.

He praised the Prime Minister's efforts regarding the supply of 40,000 doses from India and 100,000 doses from China.

On Friday, CNN reported that 29 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine planned for export were discovered in a reported "raid" on a factory outside Rome, Italy. An AstraZeneca spokesman denied reports that the doses were part of a "stockpile" and said 13 million of those doses were awaiting quality-control release to be sent to Covax and 16 million for release to Europe.