Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Jun 23, 2025

How can frontline workers refuse COVID vaccines?

How can frontline workers refuse COVID vaccines?

Public commentator and government consultant Claude Skelton Cline has decried the reported decision of some essential workers who’ve refused to take Astrazeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
He has now questioned whether the BVI should consider making the vaccines mandatory for those deemed ‘frontline workers’.

Speaking on the February 23 edition of his Honestly Speaking radio show, Skelton Cline said he has received information that some healthcare practitioners, police as well as Customs and Immigration officers have decided not to take the COVID jabs.

He said this would have been fine if these workers did not have to intimately interact with the public. But since their work requires intimate public interactions, Skelton Cline said they “do not have the right to put other people’s health at risk”.

“It is not my right to risk other people’s health. It is not your right. You do not have a personal, private right to risk other people’s health. This matter of the vaccine is in the best interest of the country. I wonder if we have come to the place where this vaccine should be made mandatory for frontline workers?” Skelton Cline questioned.

“How are you going to be in a hospital, in pharmacies, doctors’ private offices and not be vaccinated? Do you not trust the very science in which you practice? On top of that, we are supposed to open this territory on March 1st. How are we to prudently, wisely do that when we have all of this vaccination hesitancy, especially among us as black people because our white brothers and sisters are out in droves, standing in line, ready to be vaccinated?” Skelton Cline stated.

He also said the BVI should consider whether it wants the vaccines to be mandatory for teachers as well. Additionally, Skelton Cline said provisions should be made for frontline workers to step back from their duties once they refuse to take the vaccine.

Health Minister Carvin Malone has reported that some 2,050 people have taken the COVID-19 vaccines as of February 23.

Our news centre has not yet been able to ascertain the number of healthcare workers who have taken the vaccine and the number that has refused the jabs.

BVI News also checked with Police Commissioner Michael Matthews who said he couldn’t give exact figures but said he personally “witnessed a good number of police officers take the vaccine” when it was being offered at the Police Headquarters last week.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
×