The Ministry of Health is setting the record straight regarding claims that it approached private sector asking them to purchase Covid-19 vaccines.

It comes one day after ANSA Mcal said it had agreed to fund a US $8.4 million purchase for 351,000 Pfizer vaccines. 

In a brief statement issued this morning, the Ministry said  letters were sent to private sector firms across various industries, thanking them for their generous contributions during the COVID-19 period of 2020.

“Letters of appreciation, dated 26^th  February, 2021,  were sent to various private sector firms spanning the Banking, Insurance, Energy, Retail and Distribution, Manufacturing Sectors, Non-governmental Organisations and others,” the Ministry said.

“These letters were sent in recognition of their unstinting support to the Ministry of Health and the people of Trinidad and Tobago, for their generous contributions during the COVID-19 period of 2020.”

The Ministry described it as unfortunate that the contents of this letter have been associated with the procurement of vaccines in 2021.

At last Thursday’s Conversations With the Prime Minister, Dr. Rowley, while not calling names, said the company had requested a tax break in exchange, something he said government could not agree to.