Achieving herd immunity remains the goal of government, which would require between 600-700 thousand people getting vaccinated for Covid-19.

Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh says apart from the availability of vaccines on the commercial market, meeting this goal also depends on thwarting Opposition efforts to undermine the government’s vaccination plan, in order to encourage public confidence to get the shot.

He was speaking in the Senate on Tuesday, in response to a question from Opposition Senator, Wade Mark.

Over the weekend the Health Minister had to issue a statement condemning Opposition MP Dr. Roodal Moonilal’s public statement that citizens were being used as “guinea pigs” after government signaled that a gift of 100,000 vaccines from China’s Sinopharm would go ahead after the company received emergency approval from the World Health Organization last Friday.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar has once more extended an offer to government to collaborate on a Covid-19 response plan, saying now was the time to put aside “petty politics” and act in the best interest of the country. The UNC leader made the call while speaking at her party’s virtual report meeting on Monday night, where she also called out government for what she described as its failed leadership in managing the pandemic.

Apart from China’s Sinopharm vaccine, Minister Deyalsingh reaffirmed to the Senate that talks are continuing with Pfizer, Moderna, the African Medical Supplies Union and the Covax Facility.