(Jamaica Observer) Jamaicans have given mixed responses to Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s indications that mandatory vaccination could be inevitable, based on the slow take-up of COVID-19 vaccines.
While some people have expressed disapproval, others believe it is the only way for the society to return to normal, a point continuously hammered by Holness during his visits to vaccination sites over the past few weeks.
On Thursday, however, Holness appeared to have climbed down from his earlier suggestions of a mandate, saying that no one will be forced to take the COVID-19 vaccine, even as he put a timeline on when the Government will roll out what he has now labelled a vaccine option that will kick in once half of the country’s population is inoculated.
Meanwhile, some private sector companies have issued vaccine mandates to their staff, the latest being National Commercial Bank (NCB), which this week noted that that COVID-19 disease had taken a heavy toll on the company — almost 200 confirmed cases since March 2020 and three deaths — and as such the staff would have to be fully vaccinated, effective November 3, 2021.
