PM Keith Rowley discuss vaccine issue with US House Majority Whip James Clyburn

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley on Thursday had a virtual meeting with U.S. House Majority Whip Congressman James Clyburn to discuss the need for vaccines for Trinidad and Tobago from the U.S.

The U.S. has also donated 2 Field Hospitals to Trinidad and Tobago is seeking to get some of the 80 million vaccines from surplus, which the U.S. have announced to share with other countries. Rowley had earlier in March written to U.S. President Joe Biden and spoken to other U.S. officials, urging them to share the vaccines with Caribbean countries.

Till present, Barbados, India, China, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Bermuda are some of those countries that have contributed to the hard times of Trinidad & Tobago by giving vaccines to them.

Trinidad and Tobago seek help from the U.S., European Union, African Medical Council, Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson. Result of Cuban’s vaccine Abdala is still in waiting.

After Rowley meets with Clyburn, Browne will later meet Dr Beth Cameron, Biden’s senior director for global health security.

“She’s a lead policymaker for their global vaccine strategy,” Browne said.

He added that on Tuesday, he met Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, to discuss “The People’s” vaccine initiative and how it can help shape vaccine initiatives coming out of the E.U. and North America.

Browne said that their diplomats in Brussels, lead by ambassador Colin Connelly are following up directly with the E.U. their vaccine announcement subsequent to the PM’s prompt correspondence.

On the E.U.’s vaccine plan announced last week, Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis said PM Rowley would write the E.U. on the issue.

Trinidad and Tobago is also going through a continuously increasing case of COVID-19 cases and deaths. The recent count of the increasing cases has touched to a number of 21,987 till now, with the first case appearing on 15th Feb 2020, while 12,625 people recovered. So far over 440 have lost their lives to COVID-19 in the country.