Some residents of communities in Region Nine yesterday staged a protest against the recently implemented vaccination requirements in the region.
The protest action took place just outside the Region Nine Council (RDC) and Lethem Hospital, where residents held placards and stated that they were against the imposition of “mandatory vaccination.”
“Workers are asking—basically give them time to think, give them time to read, give them time to get more information because they’re not getting the full information from the personnel that are giving the vaccination,” one of the organisers of the protest, Yolanda Richmond-Moffett, told Stabroek News.
Richmond-Moffett stated that regional health authorities have not done much to educate citizens about the COVID-19 vaccines and provide them with in-depth information. One of the persons who participated in the protest added that they are not against taking the vaccine, but are against the imposition of the regulations, which they note make it mandatory.
“It’s not anti-vaxxers, it is more of just us in general not agreeing with the mandatory vaccination,” the woman, who did not want to be named, said.
In tandem with the latest COVID measures placing a restriction on access by unvaccinated services to government services, some government departments have implemented new policies mandating that unvaccinated staff who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine provide evidence of a negative PCR test result. Some places of work require evidence of a negative PCR test weekly while others require it fortnightly. The unvaccinated employees are required to cover the cost of the tests.
Richmond-Moffett noted that with the COVID testing site in the region located at the Lethem hospital, workers and other persons who are looking to access services by presenting a PCR test result might be unable to do so. “The testing site is at the hospital but you cannot enter there to get a test because the guy at the gate is saying you cannot go in so your hand is tied both sides,” she said.
Richmond-Moffett also said that while it was reported that certain health staff or public servants would be given a bit of time to get vaccinated, the extension is not being accorded to those in Lethem. She stated that unvaccinated pensioners were even turned away from the post office as recent as late last week as they were unable to present officials with their proof of vaccination.
According to the woman, the protest lasted for just around 90 minutes, in line with a previous protest that was held last week. Those who took to the road included, teachers, other public servants and even persons who were locked out from places like the post offices as they were prevented from accessing services.
Meanwhile, Richmond-Moffett said there has not been any response to the protests so far even as she noted that the protestors are hoping that they will see persons being allowed to return to work. “The satisfactory outcome is that people can get to work, get into their workplace and get to work because all through the pandemic they were working, when things were at its worst, they were working without a vaccine and now all of a sudden they can’t work anymore,” she said.
As a result she stated that they will continue the protests until their concerns are addressed.
