The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) marked Vaccination Week in the Americas 2026 in Trinidad and Tobago with the official handover of key immunization support tools and the launch of a national training initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The ceremony took place at the Sangre Grande Hospital Campus and brought together government officials, international partners, and healthcare professionals to highlight efforts to strengthen the country’s immunization system.
As part of the initiative, PAHO/WHO, with support from the Government of Canada, donated digital temperature monitoring devices to be distributed across all Regional Health Authorities. These devices are designed to improve vaccine storage by replacing manual checks with continuous digital monitoring. Equipped with remote monitoring capabilities and real-time mobile alerts, they enable healthcare providers to quickly detect and respond to temperature fluctuations, reducing the risk of vaccine loss and ensuring the safety and effectiveness of immunization services.
The event also marked the launch of the national Vaccine Preventable Diseases Surveillance Training Programme, which focuses on strengthening cold chain management and improving surveillance for conditions such as fever and rash. The programme aims to build the capacity of healthcare workers to maintain vaccine quality and enhance early detection and response to priority diseases, including measles. Medical personnel from the Eastern Regional Health Authority were the first to receive training under this initiative.
Following the ceremony, officials visited the Sangre Grande Enhanced Health Centre to observe a solar-powered vaccine refrigerator previously donated by PAHO/WHO with Canadian support. These systems play a vital role in maintaining vaccine storage during power outages and extreme conditions, ensuring continuity of immunization services.
PAHO/WHO reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and international partners to strengthen immunization coverage, improve health system resilience, and protect communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.
