(CMR) The Governor of Turks and Caicos announced last week that persons on work permits who decided not to receive the COVID-19 vaccine would not have their work permits renewed and will be asked to leave the islands.
In a post on Instagram, Governor Nigel Dakin said Cabinet had agreed to the new vaccination requirement for permit workers.
“Cabinet agreed that those here on work permits, who are not vaccinated through choice, will not have their permits renewed and they will leave,” he said.
Dakin also pointed out that more people needed to get vaccinated, or the country's vaccination program will come to an end.
He said the country was yet to start using the third batch of vaccines which arrived on March 31, as the second batch was not yet completed. The Governor said at least 7,000 people needed to be vaccinated by June 1 so that they can receive their second dose before the expiration at the end of June.
Dakin explained that the country has to use up vaccines they have received in order to receive more.
All resident adults in the Turks and Caicos are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine free of charge.
According to the Turks and Caicos travel info site, as of 18 April 2021, 15,674 people in the country had received at least one dose of the vaccine. This is approximately 35% of the total Turks and Caicos population.
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