At a press conference held at President’s House at 2:30pm on Wednesday August 25, 2021, Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes O.R.T.T., President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago put paid to the idea that she received a Covid-19 vaccine while on vacation in New York. Her Excellency in fact got a PCR test which is required for entry into Trinidad and Tobago by every traveler including the President.

The misunderstanding came about when King’s County Hospital in New York issued a tweet stating that the President of Trinidad and Tobago had visited their establishment to get a Covid-19 vaccine. This tweet was completely inaccurate and King’s County has since apologised for their error and tweeted a correction.

Ms. Cheryl Hall, Executive Director, Caribbean Women’s Health Association who organised Her Excellency’s PCR test and who also accompanied President Weekes to King’s County, attended this afternoon’s press conference via Zoom and reiterated Her Excellency’s statement that the President in fact took a PCR test and not a Covid-19 vaccine.

Her Excellency thanks the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago for their vigilance and concern and assures them that she has already received both her first and second doses of the Astra Zeneca vaccine right here in Trinidad and Tobago – the first at the Diego Martin Regional Health Facility and the second at The Paddock, Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.