New COVID-19 vaccination policy being enforced

Frontline government workers in Antigua will be required to either get the COVID-19 vaccine or be tested for the virus every two weeks at their own expense.

The vaccination policy was communicated in a memorandum sent to government departments. According to one such memo, “Effective immediately, all officers and auxiliary staff members are duly encouraged to become vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, or subject themselves to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests every 14 days, at personal cost.”

Testing for all unvaccinated staff members will begin on August 9. The memo added that testing for all unvaccinated staff members would begin 14 days following Monday, July 26.

The new policy was confirmed by Minister of Information Melford Nicholas following Thursday’s Cabinet meeting. The workers affected include: Immigration and Customs workers, Port Health workers including the greeters and the nurses and doctors, the EMS workers, the police and the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force personnel, vendors and businesses that provide services to the cruise passengers in Heritage and Redcliffe Quays, tour operators and taxi drivers and others who are employed by the public sector who are compelled to have contact with those arriving at our ports.

Some category of workers excused

Earlier this week, Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister, Lionel ‘Max’ Hurst said that while he would excuse workers who are pregnant or might be subject to developing blood clots from taking the vaccine, other civil servants were intent on “being obstinate” and were rejecting the jabs because they were listening to “silly people who are spreading lies and untruths and otherwise trying to dumb us down”.

Meanwhile, Grenada’s Emergency Powers regulations have been amended, giving the CMO power to waive a business place from enforcing the section sub-titled, “Physical distancing and sanitation protocols for establishments and businesses” once he is satisfied that all individuals are vaccinated.