GOB Backs Off Public Officer Vaccine Mandate; Postponed Until it is “Unavoidable.”

Public Officers worried about the pending deadline to show their vaccination cards when they report to work on December fifteenth have gotten a reprieve. This evening a joint release from Government of Belize and the Public Service Union announced that deadline has been postponed indefinitely. The Minister of the Public Service Henry Charles Usher, Minister of Health and Wellness, Michel Chebat and the President of the Public Service Union, Dean Flowers met on Tuesday and the outcome was that the vaccine mandate will be in the release’s words “postponed until such time it is deemed fit and unavoidable.” The Union and Government of Belize say they will work together to compile statistics, such as the percentage of vaccinated public officers, COVID-19 infection rate within the Public Service, mortality rate among public officers and the sickness benefit costs associated with the disease thus far. Then, guided by the outcome of the research and based on the data collected, the parties have agreed to work together to promote the effective enforcement of the safety protocols. They may then be a gradual introduction of a vaccine mandate.