Trinidad and Tobago has placed an indicative order with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to secure 2,000 monkeypox vaccines.
In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Health said this is part of the mitigation and preparation efforts in anticipation of the arrival of the monkeypox virus to T&T’s shores.
It added that at this time, there is no confirmed date of arrival of these vaccines from PAHO.
However, the Ministry said the public will be advised as soon as there is more information regarding the arrival of the vaccines into the country.
On June 23, the Ministry of Health declared the monkeypox virus a dangerous infectious disease, in accordance with Section 103 of the Public Health Ordinance, Chap. 12 No. 4.
Based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) guidelines, Trinidad and Tobago is among Group 1 countries, which refers to States Parties with no history of monkeypox in the human population or not having detected a case of monkeypox for over 21 days.
The monkeypox virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal or contaminated material such as bedding.
The virus may also be transferred from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids and respiratory droplets.
The main symptoms of monkeypox are: fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.
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