Opposition wants to derail the vaccine drive of T&T: Deyalsingh

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago: Terrance Deyal Singh- Minister of Health Trinidad and Tobago have condemned the statements made by the opposition party's MP Roodal Moonilal on the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine. As Trinidad and Tobago anticipate receiving a Sinopharm vaccine from China, the UNC Member of Parliament, Dr Roodal Moonilal, stated that China is experimenting on T&T, and the government is making the public 'guinea pigs'.Health Minister has called these allegations and baseless and not based on any scientific study or facts. He stated that MP Moonilal had made the remarks to derail the vaccination drive of Trinidad and Tobago.Minister Terrance Deyalsingh stated that the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine is approved by the World Health Organization and has undergone rigorous assessment, including the production facility's on-site inspections.The health minister stated that the Sinopharm vaccine has received the same assessment from WHOas Pfizer, Moder, Johnson&Johnson and even Astrazenca vaccine. "The fact is MP Moonilal also received the same AstraZeneca vaccine, which has Emergency Use Listing (EUL) approval." stated the health minister.Furthermore, Terrance Deyalsingh stated China's Sinopharm vaccine have been authorized in 45 countries, and more than 65 million doses have been administered in emergency use programmes of many countries. He stated that Emergency Use Listing (EUL) is a risk-based procedure for evaluating and preparing vaccines, with the ultimate purpose of promoting the availability of these products to people swayed by a public health emergency.Health Minister stated that the COVID-19 pandemic is a global public health emergency, and the opposition should refrain from spreading any rumours.Terrance Deyalsingh noted that the Sinopharm vaccine has an efficacy estimated at 78.1% for all age groups above 18.He stated that the lives of the people of Trinidad and Tobago are the first priority of the government and ministry of health.