Confirming that persons in the private sector have been reaching out to government about the possibility of purchasing Covid-19 vaccines to administer to their respective workforce, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says for the foreseeable future, government will remain the only source of vaccine administration. 

His clarification comes on the heels of ANSA McAL’s claim on Friday, that it would vaccinate all 6,000 of its employees and their immediate family members. 

“Trinidad and Tobago welcomes any initiative by private sector organizations to vaccinate their employees free of charge- that should be welcomed,” Deyalsingh said during Saturday’s Covid-19 press briefing.

However, the Health Minister explained, given the novelty of the Covid-19 vaccine, it will not be made available for purchase by the private sector- at least not anytime soon. 

“Now let me explain what is going to happen…at some point in time- I can’t say when. At some point in time, the Covid-19 vaccine is going to become commoditized. And like any other vaccine- I know people are focused on Covid-19 vaccine seeing that we are doing this for the first time. Every single vaccine in Trinidad and Tobago right now…is available free through the public sector, and you can pay for it through the private sector. The same thing will happen with Covid-19 vaccines eventually. So any private entity, once the vaccine is registered through a local agent, any private entity can purchase the vaccine for their employees. ” he said. 

Addressing concerns that private sector companies could mandate workers to take the vaccine in order to continue employment, Deyalsingh said each citizen reserves the right to accept or decline vaccination.

“No private entity or the government can make it mandatory that persons be vaccinated. Vaccinations, as we have always said on these platforms, continues to be voluntary,” 

Trinidad and Tobago is expected to receive its first tranch of 100,800 vaccines from the Covax Facility by the end of March- a delay from the initial timeline given by the Health Minister who initially said the vaccines were expected to arrive by the end of February or early March. 

A pre-order has also been made through the African Medical Supplies Platform for the purchase of 226,000 vaccines.