[UPDATED] PM: Secondary school children to be vaccinated if Trinidad and Tobago gets Pfizer vaccine

THE Prime Minister has said that if the brand of the covid19 vaccines the US will donate to this country is Pfizer, “the secondary school population” will be vaccinated using those doses.

He was speaking at a press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s on Saturday afternoon.

He said, “Based on the documents we have signed with the American offer – one of these documents includes an identification of the supplier. So in the event that we reach the point that we get vaccines from the US, those vaccines are more than likely to be Pfizer vaccines.

“I want to say here now that is the only covid19 vaccine with WHO clearance on the use of children from age 12, which means our secondary school children population.”

He also warned the adult population, “If there are any of you out there waiting on the Pfizer (vaccine), as long as you are not in the secondary school population, you will be waiting.”

At a post Cabinet press conference on Thursday, Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said students over 18 would get an opportunity to get vaccinated.

Newsday is aware of at least one school in south Trinidad which sent consent forms to the parents of students 18 and over.

In June, the US government listed Haiti “and other Caricom countries” as countries in the Caribbean that will receive covid19 vaccines from its planned global donation of 80 million doses.

Newsday tried to contact National Parent-Teacher Association (NPTA) president Clarence Mendoza but calls and messages went unanswered.

This story has been updated with additional details. Below is the original story.

THE Prime Minister has said that if the brand of the covid19 vaccines the US will donate to this country is Pfizer, “the secondary school population” will be vaccinated using those doses.

He was speaking at a press conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s on Saturday afternoon.

He said, “Based on the documents we have signed with the American offer – one of these documents includes an identification of the supplier. So in the event that we reach the point that we get vaccines from the US, those vaccines are more than likely to be Pfizer vaccines.

“I want to say here now that is the only covid19 vaccine with WHO clearance on the use of children from age 12, which means our secondary school children population.”

He also warned the adult population, “If there are any of you out there waiting on the Pfizer (vaccine), as long as you are not in the secondary school population, you will be waiting.”