The National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is advising that all those, including pensioners, who wish to visit its offices must either pre-sent a vaccination card or make an appointment.
A press release posted to the Scheme’s Face-book page on Friday explains that all unvaccinated persons must make an appointment by phone before visiting the scheme.
The guidelines reference the COVID19 National Emergency Measures No. 20, which were repealed on September 4 and replaced with Measures No. 21 that specifies that unvaccinated visitors to publicly accessible buildings must provide a recent negative PCR test result from a private medical facility.
Both Emergency Measures No. 20 and No. 21 have been criticised by members of the general public who equate the guidelines to medical coercion.
Sunday Stabroek has received reports of pensioners in Regions Four and 10 being denied access to NIS while others have indicated that no requests for proof of vaccination was made when they visited over the last few weeks. It is not clear if this release is an attempt by the Scheme to standardise the approach at its various offices.
