TCI TOUGHENS UP VACCINATION COMPLIANCE

The Turks and Caicos Islands is further toughening up its mandatory vaccination policy for work permits holders and applicants, government stamp holders and persons applying for permanent residency.

They must possess a valid and approved vaccination certificate. If not they will be denied entry, and if in the territory they will be required to leave, or face deportation.

The government says this tougher approach is aligned to its goal of achieving COVI-19 herd immunity as it reopens its economy, especially the critical tourism industry.

“In order to achieve herd immunity in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Government has decided to implement the mandatory vaccination of all work permit holders, Government Stamp Holders and persons applying for PRC commencing immediately,” an official statement said.

A detailed outside of the implementation process places the responsibility on both the individuals and their employer for of ensuring that vaccination certificate are in order.

One area of concern in the vaccination drive is the potential for forgery of documents, which has already been noticed in the territory.

In order to curb that, the government says it is putting a strict validation system in place.

Particularly for workers coming from countries where access to the vaccine is limited, once in the territory they will have to be vaccinated within three days of their arrival or the work permit will be automatically rescinded.

In the meantime the TCI government is urging its own citizens eligible to receive this vaccine, to “take the opportunity to get vaccinated so that we can safeguard the health of all residing and work towards the full reopening of the country.”

The Turks and Caicos Islands is aiming for a vaccination target of 70 per cent which it says is consistent with global targets and most scientific findings.