FORMER UNC MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh on Friday joined his former political and parliamentary colleague Dr Surujrattan Rambachan in calling on the public to take any Word Health Organization (WHO)-approved vaccine being offered to them.
This included the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine. This was to protect themselves against covid19 and reduce the strain being placed on the parallel health system by rising covid19 cases in Trinidad and Tobago.
Both men, who have had covid19, also called for an end to the politicisation of covid19.
In a statement, Gopeesingh said, "I urge all citizens to accept whatever covid19 vaccine is available and being offered at this time.
"Whether it is AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson or Sinopharm, the vaccines will be of tremendous benefit and reduce the chances of severe disease, hospitalization or death among covid positive patients.
Gopeesingh, a senior oncologist/gynaecologist by profession, explained, "It is a fact that the efficacy among the various covid-19 vaccines may differ...two jabs of some at least two months apart will provide safety (in) about 90-92 per cent of persons, while others will provide up to 75 per cent."
Notwithstanding this, Gopeesingh said, "This strongly outweighs the risks of severe disease or morbidity, whether short term or long term, from covid19 infections."
Gopeesingh tested covid19 positive last August.
At a news conference at the Opposition Leader's Office in Port of Spain in March, Gopeesingh accused the Gobernment of inaction in obtaining vaccines. He cautioned people about accepting covid19 vaccines through private-sector companies and agreed with the Prime Minister about reducing public gatherings to curb the spread of the virus.
In January 2020, while still an MP, Gopeesingh unsuccessfully tried to have the House of Representatives debate covid19 as a definite matter of urgent public importance.
Gopeesingh also appealed to Finance Minister Colm Imbert to ensure the Health Ministry receives all the funding it needed to address the pandemic.
"This is of paramount importance, in order to ensure that the hospitals and RHAs can afford to hire/pay salaries of the extra medical, nursing and paramedical staff, as well as fund the purchases all the necessary PPE (personal protective equipment), technical equipment, pharmaceuticals and other health supplies needed to ensure proper care of all current covid19 patients."He called for more covid19 vaccination centres and an improved communication system for people seeking vaccines.
Gopeesingh endorsed Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar's call for the Opposition and Government to have a bipartisan approach to covid19.
He supported Dr Rowley's and Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh's calls for people to adhere to the public health regulations and stay at home to protect lives.
Rambachan, who is recovering from covid19 in self-isolation at home, called for an end to the politicising of covid19.
