Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh maintains there was nothing amiss with the donation  80 vials, or 400 doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines, which arrived in the country over the weekend, courtesy the US government.

Responding to an Urgent Question in the Senate on Tuesday, Deyalsingh said it’s not unusual for government to accept donations, holding it in bond pending full and proper documentation.

“Let us contextualize this. Trinidad and Tobago has a history when it comes to donations, of receiving donations very often- sometimes by the container load- pending documentation. International agencies have done this and what we do is hold these things in bond pending the arrival of full documentation,” he said in response to Opposition Senator Wade Mark’s question.

The Health Minister further outlined that this is not the first time this arrangement has been followed for Covid-19 vaccine donations.

“More recently, in the case of receipt of Astra Zeneca vaccines which were not yet documented by WHO for EUL (Emergency Use Listing), we accepted a gift of 2,000 doses, held it in bond, pending documentation . The instant case is not different…” he said. 

Senator Mark then asked the Minister to reveal who would be vaccinated with the doses once they are cleared for use.

“As was put into the public domain by the Minister of National Security, they will make the final determination as to who will be the recipients of these vaccines. The Ministry of Health makes vaccines available, but we do not specify individuals… My information is, it will be reserved for members under the remit of the Ministry of National Security,” Deyalsingh responded. 

Another follow up question asking the Health Minister to confirm or deny claims that the doses were, in fact, reserved for PNM affiliates was blocked by Senate President, Christine Kangaloo.