Proposal to vaccinate visitors without locals knowing very concerning

Concern has been expressed about what has been said to be a “very ambitious” proposal to commence the process of vaccinations for visitors from April 2021, without locals having any clear information on the process.

The issue was raised just recently by Paul Gibson, Democratic Labour Party spokesperson on Health.

“I’ve just read two articles – one in Travel Agency Central dated March 2nd and another in Travel Off Path dated March 1st. Both articles refer to the release they received from the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., revealing a plan for vaccines to be given to visitors, during April and May,” Gibson said.

“We have press briefings sometimes three times a week, and not once were we given details about any plan to vaccinate visitors. We have to read about this in overseas magazines. Why is it that this Government continues to keep pertinent information away from taxpayers of this country? When the Prime Minister made mention of Barbadians donating to a vaccine fund, why did she not share the news of this plan?” he queried.

He added, “In keeping with the objective of achieving herd immunity, the effort to have individuals other than locals, particularly long-stay visitors vaccinated is important and ultimately necessary in the fight against the COVID-19 virus. However, there are many questions to be answered, so that we can be comfortable that there is no further strain on our already stretched systems and that locals are not disadvantaged, in light of a rollout that is intended to reach at least 70% to 80% of Barbadians in this country, with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.”

“A proposal to vaccinate visitors without communicating to locals clear methodology, is a concern. This plan for an April 2021 commencement of vaccinations for visitors, is very ambitious at this time,” Gibson stated. (RSM)