JTA: Student Vaccination Debate Continues

Since the arrival of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines in Jamaica, there has been much conversation surrounding student vaccination and whether un-vaccinated students should return to face-to-face learning. While the Education Ministry is yet to advise schools regarding un-vaccinated students, newly elected President of the Jamaica Teachers Association, (JTA) Winston Smith says he is also in support of teachers being incentivised.

However, while he echoes similar sentiments as it relates to student vaccination. When asked who should be held liable if a child contracts the virus from an un-vaccinated teacher, he says a teacher might not know they are carrying the virus and to this teacher a criminal will not be supported by the JTA.

Former President of the National Parent Teacher Association, Everton Hannam notes the barring of un-vaccinated students is unconstitutional, he however notes that online learning is not a method of barring students.

Meantime, Opposition Spokesperson on Education and Training Dr. Angela Brown-Burke while lauding the Ministry’s back to school vaccination drive, Dr. Brown-Burke says leaning to the direction of making vaccines mandatory for students should not be the case. She outlines that the high level of vaccine hesitancy and hostility is fueled by misinformation.

More in this CVM Live story from Javine Mclean: