Ministry of Health Virtual Media Conference on COVID-19 - Wednesday July 14th 2021

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the arrival of 800,000 doses of the WHO-approved Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine yesterday marked a significant day in T&T's health history as we can now move from managing the virus, to controlling it. The Health Minister urged people to take the COVID-19 vaccine that is available to them. He said T&T stands to benefit if people heed the call to get vaccinated. If every eligible person gets vaccinated, it means 600,000 members of the population will be vaccinated by September and the country can return to some semblance of normalcy that would include the resumption of business activity, the physical reopening of schools etc. Databases will be utilised to reach out to persons eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. They include through the various Chambers of Commerce and business groups, agricultural agencies for farmers, TTARP for retirees, Ministry of Education for teachers, Taxi Associations, NCD Alliance and CDAP lists etc. NCRHA CEO Davlin Thomas said thus far, 84,057 doses of COVID-19 vaccines (Sinopharm and AstraZeneca) have been administered at facilities within the North Central Regional Health Authority. The vaccination drive for construction workers, food and beverage employees, market vendors, and other frontline workers within the North Central Regional Health Authority continues tomorrow and Friday. Thus far, 791 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered at 57 Elderly Homes within the NCRHA. Mr. Thomas said the Elderly Express Experience will continue to ensure senior citizens at elderly homes and shut-ins are vaccinated. The NCRHA CEO said 692 doctors and nurses have been retrained at ICU Critical Care Boot Camps.