In September 2023, the Ministry of Health provided an important update regarding the circulating COVID-19 variant, EG.5. This variant, closely related to the XBB lineage that had been monitored for several months, notably possessed a specific mutation. This mutation was identified as potentially capable of disabling some of the immunity acquired from previous infection or vaccination.
Despite the emergence of EG.5, the Ministry of Health reported a positive trend: a drop in the overall number of COVID-19 cases over the preceding two weeks. Hospitalization levels across both the parallel and hybrid healthcare systems also remained low, with a total of 23 patients recorded in hospitals during that period.
The Ministry of Health identified specific groups as particularly vulnerable to the new EG.5 variant. These included individuals with chronic diseases, the elderly, pregnant patients, and the unvaccinated.
To maintain low levels of COVID-19 transmission and control other infectious diseases, the government strongly reminded citizens to continue upholding the principles and practices of good hygiene. Common symptoms associated with the EG.5 variant were listed as fever, coughing, exhaustion, muscle pains, and headaches.
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago reiterated that COVID-19 vaccines remained accessible for persons aged 12 and older at that time. Specific details on vaccine types and expiry were provided:
The Sinopharm vaccine was available as both a main and booster dosage for adults. A batch of Sinopharm vaccinations was noted to expire on September 9, 2023.
The Pfizer vaccination was being administered as a booster dose only for children over 12 and adults. One batch of Pfizer vaccines in stock was scheduled to expire on September 30, 2023.
Additionally, Influenza vaccinations were planned to be made accessible between October 2023 and May 2024. This information reflects the public health guidance and vaccine availability as communicated in September 2023.
