With a third COVID-19 wave in full effect across the island, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has made clear that, while the Government will not be seeking to mandate vaccines, those who are vaccinated can expect to be incentivised.

Speaking during an Office of the Prime Minister press conference Monday (August 9) evening, Holness expressed his belief that a citizen’s decision to take or not to take the vaccine is well within their constitutional right.

However, as the Government seeks to operate within the country’s best interest, upon recognising that the unvaccinated pose the highest level of infection and transmission when compared to the vaccinated, those who have accepted their “civic duty” and taken the jab, deserve to be incentivised.

He stated: “Persons who have taken on to themselves the civic duty of being vaccinated should not bear the same burden as those who don’t take on the civic duty of being vaccinated.”

As such, Holness noted, “the Government has a responsibility to create incentive-compatible systems to ensure that persons choose to take the vaccine, based on those incentives.”

At present, the Government has implemented one such incentive system whereby individuals 60 years and older who have been fully vaccinated may apply for a Conditional Cash Transfer valued at J$10,000.

In addition, Holness has indicated that similar incentive systems would be introduced for vaccinated teachers when face-to-face classes resume.

He closed by stating that the Government will continue to introduce incentives for different groups as the country seeks to expand its vaccination rollout and work towards achieving herd immunity.