The ball has already begun rolling to have a shipment of 100,000 Sinopharm vaccines sent from China to Trinidad and Tobago. 

The vaccines, a gift from China’s President Xi Jinping, was offered and agreed upon in mid March but had to await approval of the vaccine from the World Health Organization before the exchange could go ahead.

It will now go ahead as early as next week.

Speaking at Friday’s Covid-19 briefing, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the relevant documents had already been signed off upon news of WHO emergency approval earlier this morning.

“Cabinet note signed, letter of commitment signed, everything gone to the Chinese Embassy…everything,” Deyalsingh said, adding that government is in ongoing dialogue with the Chinese Embassy to operationalize plans.

Minister Deyalsingh also revealed that Trinidad and Tobago, subsequent to receiving this initial gift of 100,000 vaccines, were prepared to purchase hundreds of thousands more, with the aim to achieve herd immunity as soon as possible.