The Big Issues

No Jab, No School Mandate Abandoned. Was It Needed?

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The fiercely debated school vaccine mandate that would have barred unvaccinated students from school, and which inspired hundreds to protest outside the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, has been reversed after one week. It came with the announcement that the impending enforcement of the policy on Monday, November 22, 2021, had caused parents to rapidly get their children inoculated. It was announced that 80 percent of students in the target group had gotten vaccinated by Thursday, November 18, 2021. In this episode we ask: Was the controversial policy a success in driving up vaccination? Or was it ill conceived? And was it necessary at all?

The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:

  1. Mr. Ashworth Azille, Principal of the Clare Hall Secondary School. Also a former President of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers.
  2. Ms. Vernice Mack, retired Principal, Past President of the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers, presently- President of the Antigua and Barbuda Trade Union Congress.
  3. Ms. Chaniel Imhoff, a parent, a politician, an entrepreneur and an activist. She is a member of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and is the party’s Team Leader in the constituency of St. Peter.
  4. Sen. Bakesha Francis-James, the independent member of the Senate.


    5. This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on November 21st, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.

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    The Big IssuesBy The Big Issues Production Team