Janelle De Souza
Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said Trinidad and Tobago already has three sub-zero freezers, which can be used immediately to store covid19 vaccines once one is approved by World Health Organization.
He said the ministry was ordering more sub-zero freezers and tenders for the equipment would close on Tuesday. Deyalsingh said he expects to issue purchase orders before Christmas and anticipates the new freezers will be delivered in four weeks.
The minister was giving an update at Saturday’s virtual press briefing on measures taken to prevent the spread of covid19 and steps to protect the population.
Deyalsingh said chillers, the rooms in which freezers would be placed, in various health facilities were already in good condition but one had to be built at the Couva health facility.
“I am happy to report that a board note to the North Central RHA, which will be the procurement agency for that facility, they went out to tender and interested persons have already received their packages to build out the two to eight degree chillers at Couva.”
He hoped the country would be in a position to receive, store, and distribute vaccines a month before the region anticipated receiving approved vaccines in March 2021.
