CARICOM Disappointed About Inaccessibility to COVID-19 Vaccine

Keith Rowley

CARICOM Heads of State are expressing frustration at the obstacles Caribbean nations are facing trying to access vaccines.  At the end of a two-day virtual conference, Chairman Doctor Keith Rowley, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, did not mince words as CARICOM once more calls on the World Health Organization to intervene.  

Dr. Keith Rowley, Chairman of CARICOM

“We’re issuing a statement on our concern and dissatisfaction with the way we have been literally squeezed out of access to vaccines. We know that there is a world shortage of vaccines, but what had been put in place to allow countries like us to have access to the vaccines have not been working along those lines and the end result is that at this time, we have only had fortunately one gift of a hundred and seventy thousand vaccines within our region. And up to now we have not been able to access any other even though we now know, and anticipate with great expectation, that in the next few days we will hear when we will get our first COVAX. But we must understand that the COVAX initial tranches or quotas are but a small part of our needs. And in attempting to find access ways to either receive donations or to purchase from manufacturers, the only thing that has happened along those lines is that we’ve got some commitments to some territories, from India, to add some more to the one hundred and seventy thousand doses. But so far, we have not been able to access vaccines in the way we anticipated. Suppliers, the large suppliers and the major countries have bought up all the supplies and the suppliers are telling us that they are unable to access orders from us because of their commitment to those who have accessed those vaccines. So you will see a strong statement from CARICOM on this and you will see a repeat of the call to the WHO in the face of this development, which WHO is aware of.”