KINGSTOWN:
A lawyer for the two main public-sector unions has described as “a sinister move” the proposed changes to the Public Health Act to address the question of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of some categories of workers.
Jomo Thomas said the legislation to be debated in Parliament on Thursday is “probably one of the most significant pieces of legislation that will come before the House of Assembly”.
“All of us should pay close attention, read and come to a conclusion, discuss it with our friends, discuss it with our colleagues,” he told a joint press conference of the Public Service Union, the SVG Teachers’ Union, and the Police Welfare Association, called to address the issue.
Thomas said that the existing act made an exemption for children, but the amendment proposes to delete that protection.
He pointed out that in Britain, which he noted has many more scientists and research institutions than St Vincent, the government has said that it is not yet sure that COVID-19 vaccines are suitable for children.