Despite the lingering hesitancy by some Jamaican citizens to undergo vaccination against the coronavirus, Prime Minister, Andrew Holness says the Government will not be making the COVID-19 vaccine jab mandatory.

Holness made the announcement while speaking during a recent edition of the ‘All Access with Prime Minister Andrew Holness” interview series.

During the interview, the prime minister noted that rather than mandating citizens to take the vaccine, the Government’s position is to engage the public in understanding and appreciating the importance of being vaccinated.

Taking the opportunity to encourage Jamaicans to take the vaccine, Holness reiterated that, “the vaccine is critical for the return to normalcy, the return to the path of growth and the [full] reopening of the economy”.

On the matter of vaccine reluctancy, Holness contended that this “should not be high” in Jamaica, as “unlike other countries, we have a very strong history of vaccination”.

The prime minister further sought to validate his claim, citing nationwide vaccination programmes that were undertaken in the past, particularly in schools, “when public health (personnel) would come… and administer the vaccines and we [students] would all participate”.

He added, that “because of that, we largely eliminated certain diseases from our populations… and we are the better off for it”.

Given this, Holness expressed concern that while some Jamaicans are consuming false information that could potentially deter them from taking the vaccine, other countries, like the United States, have been “moving very quickly” to inoculate their populations. Making certain that it would “be ready to return to business” by July.

“What would happen to Jamaica if we are considered a country that has not yet reached the threshold of vaccinations to be the destination of travel that we once were? What would happen if the world returns [to normal] and we are not ready?” the prime minister posed.

Then seeking to answer his own questions, he responded “What would happen is that the world will pass us by and our economic condition will worsen”.

This in mind, Holness said it was in the interest of every Jamaican that they get vaccinated against COVID-19, “and I’m [again] urging every single Jamaican to consider taking the vaccine”.

In the same breath, the prime minister urged citizens, to continue adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols such as wearing masks in public, thoroughly washing or sanitising hands, abiding by quarantine rules, and staying at home if ill.

The interview series, which started on March 31, sees Holness engaging a representative from a media house each week in a 10-minute session, during which questions are posed to him on matters relating to crime, the economy, and COVID-19.