NAPARIMA MP Rodney Charles on Monday called on Government to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago is "first in line" to access some of the 80 million covid19 vaccine doses that the US will export in the next six weeks.
Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dr Amery Browne said Government is already working aggressively on all levels to access some of these vaccines, the export of which US President Joe Biden announced in a tweet.
Biden said, "America will never be fully safe while this pandemic is raging globally. That's why today, I am announcing that over the next six weeks, we will send 80 million vaccine doses overseas.
"It is the smart thing to do. It is the strong thing to do."
In a news conference at the White House on Monday, Biden said the donation would include 20 million Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines that would be added to a previously announced donation of 60 million AstraZeneca vaccines. The AstraZeneca vaccines would have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the US before they can be donated. That approval has not yet been granted and the length of the approval process has not yet been established.
In a statement, Charles said, "Now is not the time to prevaricate or play powerful stupid or wonder whether it will be perceived as begging.
"Now is the time for cold, hard, clinically focused action to deal with this covid pandemic."
Charles suggested follow-up action by TT's ambassador in the US, a formal diplomatic note to the US Embassy in Port of Spain and the use of the DC lobbyist group as means for TT to access covid19 vaccines for the population.
"What we need is...a results-driven approach that leads to vaccines being made available to our country and US investments post-covid to assist our economic recovery efforts."
Browne told Newsday, "This latest announcement by the President of the United States of America goes well beyond the previous covid19 vaccines commitment that was made by the USA to the global community.
"President Biden made it very clear today that his nation intends to be the global leader in actively ensuring improved vaccine access to other countries during this phase of the pandemic, and that is excellent news for the developing world, for Caricom, and for TT."
Browne said Government has "strongly and consistently" used all available communication and diplomatic channels to press home the Prime Minister's international advocacy to access covid19 vaccines for TT and Caricom.
Dr Rowley is the current Caricom chairman.
Browne said TT's embassy team in Washington, DC, "has been fully mobilised in working with a range of advocates at all levels as the White House finalises the details of exactly how and when these vaccines will be distributed."
Browne also said Government continues its "excellent communication and collaboration" with the US Embassy in Port of Spain on acquiring vaccines: "I have already fully discussed the new vaccine possibilities with Mr Shante Moore who currently heads their Embassy team."
