PM Keith Rowley virtually meets US House Majority Whip James, discusses vaccine issue

Prime Minister and Chairman of CARICOM Dr Keith Rowley virtually met with United States House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn on Thursday.

The meeting concentrated on issues related to COVID-19 vaccines, national security and other subjects of mutual interest. Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Senator Dr Amery Browne, also participated in the virtual meeting.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had asked the United States for help in procuring coronavirus vaccines. In a letter titled to President Joe Biden, PM Rowley had urged him to share the surplus vaccines with the Caribbean and Latin American countries, stating that the region is hard-hit by the health and economic crisis caused by the pandemic. Later, President Biden had also promised his full support to the countries in the region. Trinidad and Tobago is currently undergoing a massive third wave of coronavirus, with hospitals occupied to their full capacities and hundreds testing positive for the COVID-19 daily.

The medical infrastructure of the country is severely overwhelmed; recently, the United States of America even sent out field hospitals. The vaccination drive in Trinidad and Tobago started much later than in other countries.

AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines are being used by the health ministry, and less than 100,000 have received their first doses so far. The authorities are focusing on inoculating health workers, front-line workers and people over the age of 60- with or without comorbidities.

Recently, some cases of Brazilian variant were also identified in the country; the health authorities have raised their concerns and demanded people to stay indoors. The government have also imposed a state of emergency, which the Prime Minister stated could be revoked once the virus load reduces and the numbers decreases. Prime Minister himself recently recovered from coronavirus and is advising the general public to remain vigilant and not take the disease lightly.