Government Faces Pushback on Vaccination Mandate

Disunity and incoherence surrounding the impending vaccination mandate is frustrating many; a mandate the Justice Minister, Delroy Chuck says Prime Minister Andrew Holness did not allude to. Meanwhile, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, (PSOJ) is calling for the government and the Opposition to buckle down on their COVID-19 response strategy for the sake of the people.

Agitation stirs in the Jamaican population around the possibility of a nationwide vaccination mandate. Something that has been hinted at by Prime Minister Andrew Holness on a few occasions during his tour of blitz sites across the island.

However, Minister Chuck is saying that the mandate is not being considered, and even if it were being considered Chuck says that a mandate carries more challenges.

Kevin Obrien Chang, in his reaction to the Government’s and Oppositions’ handling of the vaccination programme, shares his disappointment, on how the public education on vaccines has been handled. Chang says authority figures do not do due diligence before addressing the public, causing division and confusion among the people.

The PSOJ, continues to amplify their call for a unified approach to the COVID-19 response,
“With 54% of the population indicating they are not willing to take the vaccine at this time, the Government, private sector, and civil society are grappling with how, if, and when a mandate should be introduced. Both parties need to jointly determine and inform the country of a common position on a national COVID-19 vaccine policy.”

“The Government must also recognize the huge responsibility it has as the single largest employer in Jamaica with approximately 120,000 in its employ. The Government must begin the introduction of vaccine workplace policies to keep its workforce and the general public which it serves as safe as possible.”

More in this CVM story from Jhanielle Powell: