Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh has sought to respond to statements by UNC MP Dr. Roodal Moonilal.
On Friday, following news that China’s Sinopharm vaccine was granted emergency approval by the World Health Organisation, Moonilal stated that T&T must be cautious about becoming part of a “guinea pig” programme involving use of a drug that only has emergency licence approval.
However, in a statement on Saturday, Deyalsingh said the Sinopharm vaccine has undergone a rigorous WHO assessment, including on-site inspections of the production facility prior approval for the Emergency Use Listing.
He noted the WHO assessment is the same process used for Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, which all currently have EUL approval.
Furthermore, Mr Deyalsingh says Sinopharm has been authorized for use in 45 jurisdictions and over 65 million doses lhave been administered.
He notes that WHO has confirmed the vaccine as having an estimated efficacy rate of 78.1% for all age groups 18 years and over.
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