Vaccination Blitz for Tourism Workers

More than 500 tourism workers on Friday (September 3) participated in the Tourism Vaccination Task Force’s COVID-19 Vaccination Blitz held at Moon Palace in Ocho Rios, St. Ann.

The initiative is the brainchild of the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) that are looking to expedite the vaccination of 150,000 workers in the industry over the next eight weeks.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who toured the vaccination site on the day, told JIS NEWS that the intention is to establish seven such centres across Jamaica with outturns of up to 600 persons per day.

“It is a tall order, but we think that the capacity is here, and we feel the willingness of the workers as indicated by the outturns that we have seen in the last three days since the programme started,” Mr. Bartlett indicated.

“We have been having steady flows from the centres in Negril and here in Ocho Rios, and then we are looking at other centres now. Another centre in Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and on the south coast for Black River and then to look at Port Antonio,” he added.

The Minister stated that although tourism workers are the primary focus under the joint initiative, their family members and friends are also invited and encouraged to take part in the free vaccination process so that “no one is left behind.”

“We want to encourage and urge the workers of the industry and their families too, because this exercise is not just about them but the ecosystem around the workers. Families or close friends, we turn no one away,” Mr. Barrtlett outlined

He further pointed out that this special task force on tourism vaccination will not impose on that of the already existing health infrastructure.

“The doctors and the nurses as well as the infrastructure arrangement would all be provided by us in this coalition of PSOJ, JHTA and Ministry of Tourism. We want to use the opportunity to thank the teams that are coming together, the nurses and the doctors from the private sector that are engaging [in] this exercise, Mr. Bartlett explained.

“So, I am excited that we can make this great impact in extending the facilities that are available for a greater level of vaccination and this of course, will augment the national mobilisation programme,” he added.

President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Clifton Reader, noted that it is imperative that the programme incorporates all workers of the tourism sector.

“So, we’ve decided to open it up not only to the families of our employees, but the craft vendors, transportation, the villa workers and of course, attractions. So, as the Minister said, anybody wanting to get vaccinated can come here and the people who come here, the next time around they can get their second shot right here at Moon Palace,” Mr. Reader stated.