Trinidad and Tobago has lowest level of vaccination in Caribbean: UNC

Trinidad and Tobago: United National Congress has again lashed on the PM Keith Rowley government for the mismanaged process of securing free vaccines, which could have inoculated several of our high-risk frontline workers.

The opposition also stated that the government appears to have lost the opportunity to secure 351,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer.

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UNC stated that their speculations are made on the basis of the response to questions asked by the opposition in Parliament on Tuesday.

“"It is clear that the PNM government did not, for whatever reason, seize this opportunity to secure vaccines that could have saved the lives of our people.”" added United National Congress in a statement on their Facebook handles.

UNC stated that the Pfizer vaccines were reportedly available for purchase on February 17th at the cost of US$8.4M, while the minister of health is unable to say if this order of vaccines is still available, and if it is, when the country can expect it and at what cost.

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“After investing $1.4m of taxpayer dollars into COVAX, as of today, we have absolutely no idea when we will receive the reduced allocation of 33,600 doses.” added UNC.

It added that the vaccine purchase from Pfizer would have inoculated 25% of the roughly 700,000 citizens who must be inoculated to achieve herd immunity.

“Achieving herd immunity is directly linked to the reopening of schools, the reopening of the borders and the resumption of full economic activity.” added UNC.

United National Congress also stated that the actions of the government with respect to securing vaccines wreaks incompetence and abject failure, which has become the hallmark of the PNM in their management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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“Our livelihoods, our children's education and our very lives are at risk as a result of the uselessness of Rowley and his gang of inept Cabinet Ministers who appear content to keep this country in a state of semi-lockdown whilst they plunder the HSF", added UNC in the statement.

Furthermore, they alleged that Trinidad and Tobago have the lowest level of vaccination in the Caribbean because other CARICOM countries have managed to repatriate their nationals and procure vaccines from manufacturers, as well as take advantage of India’sIndia's generous “Vaccine Maitri” initiative.

"Meanwhile, our Prime Minister is busy insulting Ambassadors and implying that other Leaders are “beggars”," said UNC