Trade Unions Call for Vaccine Education Instead of Mandating

The Health Ministry convened a special press conference, at the Jamaica Pegasus to address workplace concerns with COVID-19 vaccines and trade unions. The conference which took place on on Friday, September 11, saw Health Minister, Dr. Christopher Tufton and the trade union executive members discussing ways they will collaborate in vaccination efforts.

High on the panel’s agenda was the matter of mandatory vaccination. The issue of mandatory vaccination of employees to increase vaccination uptake was tackled by trade union representatives during a special press conference with the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

They are instead imploring companies to educate their workers rather than using coercion to reduce hesitancy.
Some companies have mandated their workers to get vaccinated or produce a negative COVID-19 test as often as every three days. This too was cautioned against by President General of the Bustamante International Trade Union, (BITU) Kavan Gayle.

The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, (JCTU) says members attributed the low vaccine take up in some workplaces to inaccessibility and have collaborated with the Health Ministry to combat this. Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, who was on the panel, encourages people to get vaccinated.

More in this CVM Live story from Jhanielle Powell: