A number of Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) members and tourism industry partners this week intensified support for the Ministry of Health and Wellness in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 by hosting onsite vaccination days for the benefit of their employees and those of nearby companies and organisations.

During Wednesday’s (August 18) designated ‘Vax Day’ at Moon Palace Jamaica in Ocho Rios, St Ann, more than 300 employees and residents from the surrounding communities were vaccinated.

This followed similar initiatives already hosted at Sandals Ocho Rios and Montego Bay and Couples Negril. More on-site hotel Vax Days are being scheduled for hotels and airports in Negril and Montego Bay in the coming weeks.

The on-site ‘Vax Days’ are being hosted under the Private Sector Vaccination Initiative (PSVI) established to support the national vaccination plan of the health ministry by mobilising collective resources and increasing the roll out of the vaccination programme across the country.

“The JHTA is doing its part, bringing the vaccinations to where the people are,” said Clifton Reader, president of the JHTA.

“These Vax Days not only benefit our staff but we have invited our partners, including tour companies and craft vendors, to register with the PSVI and take advantage of the mechanisms being provided at our hotels.“

Reader said that, “in keeping with health and safety protocols including social distancing protocols, our larger properties are hosting these Vax Days which are also open to smaller hotels and other employees in close proximity”.

He aded: “The medical teams that manage the process at the hotels are all registered with the Medical Council of Jamaica and supervised by the Ministry of Health & Wellness.  We have the required facilities in place for the post vaccination observation, including emergency supplies in the event of adverse reactions to the vaccine.”

Pointing to the increasing incidence of COVID-19 in Jamaica and other countries, Reader said that the JHTA was committed to doing everything it could to respond to the needs of hotel employees and their families, guests and the communities in which they operate.

“We have previously hosted testing sites and now we are hosting vaccination sites as we work with the health and other authorities to beat the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Reader.

“I hope that in making it easier for persons to be vaccinated we can achieve the herd immunity required to reduce the spread of the virus and save lives in Jamaica.”