CARICOM to get 800k doses of COVID vaccines from South Africa

Trinidad and Tobago: Current Chairman of CARICOM, Dr Keith Rowley, informed that CARICOM would get 800k jabs of the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccines from the Africa Medical Supplies Platform in mid-July.While addressing the nation, PM Rowley also notified that out of 800 thousand, Trinidad and Tobago would get 200 thousand doses of vaccines. Additionally, he also noted that apart from these 800k doses, CARICOM will also get 400k doses in August and 500k in September, respectively.PM Roley further stated that he discussed vaccine-related issues with the president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the South African president assured PM Rowley that whatever vaccines SA will produce, a portion will be given to the CARICOM. He also stated that, after him, Antigua and Barbuda prime minister Gaston Browne would take over the chairmanship of CARICOM. Notably, Trinidad and Tobago have recorded 115 new cases of the COVID-19 deadly mutant taking the total number of active cases on the island to 6,533, as of 4 July 2021.As of 4 July 2021, a total of 219,964 individuals have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, where in total, 112,994 individuals have received their second dose of the novel coronavirus vaccine and are now fully vaccinated against the deadly virus, according to the report by T&T’s health ministry.The Health Ministry in the report further informed that so far, till 4 July 2021, in total 234,443 individuals have been tested for the COVID-19 mutant, out of which in total 98,839 COVID-19 tests were conducted at the private healthcare facilities while around 135,604 novel coronavirus tests were conducted at the public healthcare facilities.Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, the island has reported in total 33,428 cases of the novel coronavirus till 4 July 2021.The Caribbean Community is an organisation of fifteen states and dependencies throughout the Caribbean, having primary objectives to promote economic integration & cooperation among its members, ensure that the advantages of integration are equitably shared, and coordinate foreign policy.