The Ministry of Health in Trinidad and Tobago has received 50,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, but only a select group will get the shots.Health Minister Jerry Narace said Friday the vaccines would be given first to "essential decision makers", health care providers and national security workers.
The security personnel include workers at ports, the airport, army, police, fire and prisons.
Narace also announced that the persons eligible for the first set of vaccines won't have to go to health centres or clinics because the Ministry of Health will send staff to them to administer the vaccine.
He said the vaccination program will begin Monday.
"This marks phase one of vaccine administration, as we expect to be receiving more vaccines in the days and weeks ahead," Narace said.
When the second set of 20,000 vaccines arrive pregnant women in their third trimester will be first in line along with children two to five years of age.
"Again, these persons do not have to go into the health care clinics just for the sole purpose of getting the vaccine. They will receive the vaccines when they visit their health care providers at their next scheduled visit," he said.
Other high risk groups have to wait until the third batch of vaccines arrive, the minister said. These include people with chronic respiratory conditions, chronic non-communicable diseases and immune system conditions, during their scheduled visits at the health care facilities.
The government has arranged through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and a private supplier for a total of 280,000 doses of the vaccine. It says each vaccine costs US$7.50 (TT$47.25).
Critics have said this leaves about three quarters of the population at risk for the deadly flu.
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