Trinidad gets 13,500 doses of vaccine from Grenada and SVG

Among all the Caribbean island nations, Trinidad and Tobago is currently undergoing the enormous crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Other sister islands are coming in to help their neighbour.

On Saturday, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines sent out an additional consignment of over 13,500 Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

The government of Trinidad and Tobago has expressed their gratitude to the countries reaching out to help with medical supplies and vaccines during unprecedented times.

The office of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley stated the vaccines were transported by the Tobago Air Guard Fixed Wing. St Vincent and the Grenadines sent out 5,500 AstraZeneca vaccines while Grenada assisted with 8,000 doses.

The doses were delivered and handed over to Rita Toussaint, Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs and Ministry of Health Officials at the Piarco International Airport.

[caption id="attachment_35313" align="aligncenter" width="456"] COVID-19 data released by the Ministry of Health and Wellness Trinidad and Tobago[/caption] The United States of America has also promised to send out a sum of surplus coronavirus vaccines to the Latin American and Caribbean countries. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had spoken to Vice President Kamala Harris and sought assistance. The health ministry of Trinidad and Tobago recorded additional 12 coronavirus related deaths and 316 new cases on Saturday. Since March 2020, the country reported a total of 656 virus-related deaths. The government have imposed a state of emergency followed by a lockdown and a curfew across the country to curb the spread of the virus. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley assured people that the restrictions could be taken off once the virus curve declines. Currently, some hospital beds are occupied to 90% of their total capacity. A few weeks ago, the United States of America also delivered four field hospitals to help the developing nation handle the pandemic.

The government have also scrapped the alphabetical order in giving vaccines; now, from June 16 onwards, the immunization will be available for all over 65-year-old at 36 health centres.