This country’s PAHO and WHO representative, Dr Erica Wheeler, has revealed that PAHO is aiming to ensure an equitable distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Speaking at the Health Ministry’s virtual news conference on Wednesday, Dr Wheeler revealed that PAHO and UNICEF are discussing the supply of vaccines to Latin America and the Caribbean.
She added, “It is really up to the member states to decide what they want, what quantities of these vaccines that they want and it will be procured via PAHO.”
“The objective of the Covax facility is test, treatment and vaccines. But most of all, equitable access globally.”
Another objective of Covax, she said, was “to end the acute phase of the pandemic by the end of 2021.”
Wheeler said there is no discrimination, as high and low income countries will access the vaccine at the same time.
She said every country will get at least 20 per cent of the two billion doses that are expected to be produced by each vaccine manufacturer by the end of 2021.
Wheeler reiterated that TT will initially receive 280,000 doses of vaccine for identified priority groups.
She added, “We will be the recipients of not just one vaccine but possibly a mixture of different vaccines that will suit the population of TT.”
Wheeler said it is important for TT to be ready to receive the vaccine and Government has already made a downpayment in this regard.
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