Trinidad to get 100 000 doses of COVID vaccine, says minister

(Barbados Nation) – Trinidad and Tobago has been allocated an initial 100 000 to 120 000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine via the COVAX Facility, which will be delivered by March, according to Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh.

He said over the weekend that this initial allocation will provide vaccines for at least 50 000 people, as half of the vaccines will be reserved to ensure that each recipient receives the required two doses.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has proven to be effective and can be stored in the standard vaccine refrigerator, which maintains a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius. The distribution process for this vaccine would therefore align closely to existing vaccine protocols.

“While it is noted that the vaccine will be distributed after it receives final World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Use Authorisation, this announcement is a major step in securing doses of the vaccine for the Trinidad and Tobago population, especially in the face of international COVID-19 vaccine supply challenges,” the Ministry said.

The Ministry of Health has taken a three-pronged approach to securing COVID-19 vaccines via the COVAX Facility, bilateral discussions with vaccine suppliers and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) COVID-19 Vaccine Initiative.

Read more at: Barbados Nation

Source: CARICOM TODAY