PM Holness: No Plans to Make Vaccination Mandatory

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness assures the nation that the Government has no plans to make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory.

Prime Minister Holness says that Cabinet has had the discussion, and the Government does not intend, nor inclined to mandate any vaccines. He also adds that this is something that would meet the constitutional test. 

In his address during a virtual press conference on Monday, April 9, Holness noted, however, that the goal of the Government is to ensure that approved vaccines are widely available to Jamaicans. 

“We have ensured that whenever vaccines are available in Jamaica, meet the highest standards of approval, and we have not brought in any vaccines unless they were first of all World Health Organization (WHO) approved,” he said.

Mr. Holness explained that while other countries vaccination programmes are way ahead of Jamaica because they made certain decisions, which may have included mandatory vaccination, he says the Government decided to wait in the best interest of the people of Jamaica. 

“We waited because we understood the high level of suspicion about vaccines in our country. So when we go to the public to say ‘take the vaccines’, we are confident that we are giving you the best vaccines that are available,” the Prime Minister said.

Holness urges Jamaicans to take the vaccine once it becomes available. The Prime Minister said the Government will incorporate an islandwide roadshow in its public education campaign. This initiative will involve him going directly into communities to explain how the vaccine works and how they can access it.